Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)

After rising from his volcanic grave, Godzilla is threatened by a mutated rosebush.

Director:

Kazuki Ohmori

Writers:

Shinichirô Kobayashi (story), Kazuki Ohmori

Stars:

Kunihiko Mitamura, Yoshiko Tanaka, Masanobu Takashima

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kunihiko Mitamura	...	Kazuhito Kirishima
Yoshiko Tanaka	...	Asuka Okouchi
Masanobu Takashima	...	Major Sho Kuroki
Kôji Takahashi	...	Dr. Genichiro Shiragami
Tôru Minegishi	...	Lieutenant Goro Gondo
Megumi Odaka	...	Miki Saegusa
Toshiyuki Nagashima	...	Director Seiichi Yamamoto
Ryûnosuke Kaneda	...	Seizo Okouchi
Kazuma Matsubara	...	Self Defense Forces Officer
Yoshiko Kuga	...	Keiko Owada, Prime Minister's Representative
Yasunori Yuge	...	Prime Minister's Aide
Yasuko Sawaguchi	...	Erika Shiragami
Haruko Sagara	...	TV Reporter
Kôichi Ueda	...	Joint-Chief of Staff Yamaji
Kosuke Toyohara	...	Osamu Amesawa

Storyline

A scientist combines the cells of a rose with those of Godzilla to create a biological creature more horrifying than any seen before. The two do battle after a destructive tour of Japan by Godzilla. A newly released version includes many new fight scenes that were cut out of the theatrical version.

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Plot Keywords:

godzilla | kaiju | japan | tokusatsu | fictional country | 

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Taglines:

The Super-Beast Battle of the Century

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for traditional Godzilla violence

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese English

Release Date:

16 December 1989 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Godzilla vs. Biollante

Filming Locations:

Osaka, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,538,198

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toho Company, Toho Eizo Co., Toho Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 83 min (VHS Screener Release)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After this film failed in the Japanese box office, Toho believed it was because Biollante was an unfamiliar kaiju to the fans. So, Toho decided to bring back old enemies of Godzilla for the next few films, beginning with Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991).

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Goofs

When Kirishima is fighting the Saradian agent, the agent is able to grab his rifle. While he is taking aim, a rear view image reveals a large brown spot on the back of the agent's shirt that was not there before.

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Quotes

Dr. Shiragami: I just wonder. Did Godzilla come all this way to see Biollante because it knew they were made from the same cells?
Asuka Okouchi: Yes, it's possible. After all, they're from the same family.
Dr. Shiragami: More than just the same family. They are both made from the same cells. They're identical, the same thing. Not brother and sister; they're both the same creature.

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Alternate Versions

Deleted scenes:

• When Godzilla comes ashore at Abarishi a scene of him walking past a lighthouse and smashimng it with his tail was cut.
• After Godzilla's first confrontation with Biollante in Lake Ashino in the which is set ablaze by Godzilla's radioactive breath, spores from the plant creature shower the surrounding countryside causeing flowers to suddenly bloom.
• Originally Godzilla was to atack the Osaka's Kansie airport, which was under construction at the time of filming, but permission could not be obtained. Instead Godzilla and Miki engage in a telepatch battle near a heliport for the site in the Ise Channel.
• A discarded concept was to have Biollante attempt to physically absorb Godzilla during the climatic battle. This was scrapped due to time and budgetary considerations but was the concept was visualised for the climax of 'Godzilla 2000'.

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Connections

Followed by Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992)

User Reviews

Best film in the second series

Gojira vs. Biorante (or Godzilla vs. Biollante as it's know here in the USA) opens up right where Godzilla 1985 left off. A group of scientists searching through the rubble that was once Tokyo make an interesting discovery: Godzilla Cells. These "Godzilla Cells" are actually palm-sized flakes of Godzilla's skin that were either scratched or blown off. Now many different groups of people are fighting to get these cells and one group in particular called Bio Major, which is an American terrorist organization, will stop at nothing to get these cells, even if they have to release Godzilla from his volcanic prison. On a lighter note, a prominent Japanese scientist who lost his only daughter in a terrorist bombing, combines the Godzilla Cells with the cells of a rose plant. Once these cells are joined together, they form a monstrous rose that the scientist names Biollante. Now Godzilla gets loose and pretty soon you can guess that Godzilla and Biollante are going to go at it.

This is in fact my favorite Godzilla movie in the second generation of Godzilla films. It has a real dark tone and a really haunting score. It should also be pointed out that the film is probably the most violent in the second generation of Godzilla films. I say this because there are several bloody shoot-outs, Godzilla gets stabbed in his side by one Biollante's tendrils, a man is strangled to death, and a man is disintegrated by electricity.

Finally, has anyone noticed that the Godzilla costume in this movie is different than the one in Godzilla 1985? I think that is because the costume in G-1985 was stolen and was rumored to be worth over $100,000.

Anyway, Godzilla vs. Biollante gets a 10/10.