Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995)

The aftermath of the Oxygen Destroyer brings forth Destoroyah, a beast intent on killing Godzilla, who is on the verge of a nuclear meltdown.

Director:

Takao Okawara

Writer:

Kazuki Ohmori

Stars:

Takurô Tatsumi, Yôko Ishino, Yasufumi Hayashi

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Takurô Tatsumi	...	Dr. Kensaku Ijuin
Yôko Ishino	...	Yukari Yamane
Yasufumi Hayashi	...	Kenichi Yamane
Megumi Odaka	...	Miki Saegusa
Sayaka Osawa	...	Meru Ozawa
Saburô Shinoda	...	Professor Fukazawa
Akira Nakao	...	Commander Takaki Aso
Masahiro Takashima	...	Major Sho Kuroki
Momoko Kôchi	...	Emiko Yamane
Shigeru Kôyama	...	Army General
Ronald Hoerr	...	Professor Marvin
Kôichi Ueda	...	Night Watchman at Aquarium
Takehiro Murata	...	Yukari's Editor
Shelley Sweeney	...	G-Force Technician
Akihiko Hirata	...	Dr. Daisuke Serizawa (archive footage)

Storyline

Something has destroyed Birth Island, home of Godzilla and Little Godzilla and soon, it is discovered that Godzilla has developed a bright flaming glow, indicating that his nuclear energy is growing out of control. Fearing that Godzilla will soon explode, the G-Force tries to freeze him, thus cooling his temperature. But another problem arises as a horde of human sized creatures, formed from a combination of Godzilla cells, and the weapon that destroyed the original one, The Oxygen Destroyer. Now the military must try to stop these creatures and stop Godzilla from going through a nuclear meltdown that could destroy the world.

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Plot Keywords:

aeroplane | military | japanese woman | japanese military | nuclear fission | 

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Taglines:

It's a Major Monster Meltdown!

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese English

Release Date:

9 December 1995 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$21,263,023

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toho Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Intended to be the last Godzilla movie until the 50th anniversary of Godzilla (1954) in 2004, which allowed TriStar/SPE (also the distributor of many of the films in the USA) to make a trilogy of American Godzilla movies starring Matthew Broderick during that time. However, the poor critical response and box-office revenue of Godzilla (1998) caused TriStar/SPE to abandon plans for a second and third film and Tôhô to bring back Gojira sooner than planned with Godzilla 2000 (1999).

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Goofs

The insect-like Destoroyah slide their legs about unconvincingly in many shots.

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Quotes

Dr. Kensaku Ijuin: First you come and see me to warn me not to make an Oxygen Destroyer... now you want me to make one?
Kenichi Yamane: It's the only way Godzilla can be destroyed now! Every other means has failed! You're the only one who can do it!
Dr. Kensaku Ijuin: I said I could make one, but I didn't say it was going to be easy, did I? Besides...
Yukari Yamane: Besides?
Dr. Kensaku Ijuin: I made an analysis of the surrounding soil. I've seen the effect the Oxygen Destroyer had on it. If it had have been used on the ground, it's quite obvious that Tokyo would've become a ...

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Crazy Credits

The end credits feature scenes from Godzilla (1954) and the Heisei series of films (The Return of Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Biollante, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla, and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah), ignoring the other entries in the Godzilla series in between the 1954 and 1984 films, just like the films in the Heisei series did since The Return of Godzilla was a direct sequel to the 1954 film.

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Alternate Versions

The US version cuts a majority of the ending credits, shortening the runtime from 103 minutes to 100 minutes. However, the credits have been recently restored for use on the Starz channels.

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Connections

Referenced in Barbie: The Pearl Princess (2014)

User Reviews

The most moving and thrilling of all Godzilla films.

The most moving and thrilling of all Godzilla films, with a solid plot, smooth acting, moving music and emotional drama. I enjoyed this movie; the final one in the Godzilla "Heisei" series, in which Godzilla's heart, basically like a nuclear reactor, is on a verge of a meltdown. This will result in the disintegration of the entire city. As a result, this movie is a thrilling race against time to stop Godzilla before he melts down.

This G-film's story is particularly captivating and unique, exciting from start to finish. The film also includes a combination of elements that is iconic to a Godzilla film: scientists, reporters, military, Tokyo, fleeing citizens, city destruction, monster battles and Akira Ifukube's brilliant music score. And, it includes a host of actors that appeared in past Godzilla films, most notably Momoko Kochi reprising her 1954 role as Emiko Yamane. All this is a great homage to have in the final Godzilla film of the Heisei series.

There is one thrilling scene in which I especially liked - the part when Yukari gets trapped in the police car with Destoroyah pursuing her. And, the part when Miki breaks down and cry when Godzilla Junior laid lifeless on the ground almost reduced me to tears - reminding you that this film is Godzilla's final bow. I really despise Destoroyah, after all the damaged he has done. Godzilla should have melted that ugly arachnid. And, I would have made the Ken and Meru characters a little less annoying.

But overall, a terrific, heart-pounding film to close out the second Godzilla series. A must see for all.

Grade A-