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 | japan | tokusatsu | kaiju | scientist | 

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Taglines:

The most terrifying monster of all time is back in his greatest movie ever

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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

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

This was the first Godzilla film to be made in Japan's Heisei era (pronounced "hey-say"). Emperor Hirohito (whose reign, the Showa era, began in 1926) had died in early January of 1989, thus was the end of Showa (1926-1989) and the beginning of Heisei (1989-present), the reign of his son, Emperor Akihito.

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Goofs

According to ransom demand fax the deadline to turn over the anti-nuclear energy bacteria is no later than "2 pm Tuesday the 31st". However when Kurshima arrives at the delivery location he checks the time and the date dial on his wristwatch reads "Friday The 10th"

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Quotes

Kazuhito Kirishima: [to Dr. Shiragami] So you did do it. You amalgamated one of Godzilla's cells together with the plant's cells. Are you proud of this? What kind science do you call this?

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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

Follows Son of Godzilla (1967)

User Reviews

Gojira vs. Biorante (1989)

Another great entry into the rebooted franchise. It picks up where the last Godzilla films left of. However, it soon turns into an espionage thriller, Americans and, most dangerously of all, middle eastern folk, try and steal a Godzilla fragment to experiment with. It leads to the creation of a giant plant. Nothing too dangerous you might think, but as it mutates, the design is really quite breathtaking. This film once again takes it up a notch. It feels so genuine in its portrayal of the events, and even manages to convince the audience that this is all very real. As always, the score is truly dominant. It flows throughout the film bringing both dread and excitement. I loved how they gradually introduce the more "out there" ideas. This time, it's telekinesis with flowers. Like the classics, it is a story of man and nature, and how fooling around could lead to absolute destruction by giant monsters. There were also a number of humane touches and some maturity lacking from earlier attempts. When asked if he will go to America a young man says that he wont, as every country has bad things about it. For once, the foreign devils aren't to blame. Just humanity as a whole.