Godzilla and time travel fumble around with each other in an enjoyable but confusing entry. It mostly confuses because the time travel plot doesn't make much sense. Why do the aliens just move Godzilla? Who knows. It's great to see a bit more origin, even if it doesn't all add up. There are some excellent comedic scenes, aided by some hammy acting. The scene with a Mr. Spielberg is a great laugh out loud moment. The war scenes are a little something new, and the anti Americanism has been blown out of proportion. One of the characters even says that the dinosaur was just protecting its island. Ghidorah soon makes an appearance, and there's even more fun to be had with Mecha-Ghidorah. This was a jump back into the cheesiness of earlier films, but after the undeserved failure of the previous installment, that was to be expected.
70 Reviews
Good Monster Battles, Music, and City Destruction, but...
Aylmer16 December 2007
With Godzilla films, or any other giant monster on the rampage type film, there is a certain level of suspension of disbelief required... but even in the realm of Godzilla where everything from numerous alien invasions, giant robots, and telepathic twin fairies are possible this movie STILL pushed the limits of believability.
So apparently, Japan in World War 2 was in the habit of hiring soldiers in their 50's and 60's who would not age a day in the next 47 years? Buy some make-up, people! This is the first Godzilla movie to deal heavily with time travel, which can be cool if handled well (BACK TO THE FUTURE) but if handled badly (TIMECOP) can quickly get convoluted and messy, or like this film make no sense at all. It doesn't help that several science fiction elements are jumbled together, complete with androids, flying saucers, biogenetically engineered pets who mutate into Godzilla's biggest foe, etc.
After the groundbreaking work on 1985 and BIOLLANTE, the special effects work here is definitely a mixed bag with lots of good pyrotechnics and miniature skylines that look almost real, but some poor model photography, frequently out of focus. The acting from the non-Japanese cast members (like the bad guys and the US servicemen in the world war 2 flashback) is dire, and for some reason baby Godzilla sounds like Rodan (or Gamera when he gets hurt). I have a feeling Sony/Columbia/Tristar dubbed the Heisei series badly on purpose just to make their GODZILLA 98 movie look better in comparison.
The English dubbing here is ATROCIOUS (even worse than GODZILLA 2000) with such instances as when a fighter pilot shrieks "I'm.... I'm spinning!" when he rolls his plane away from Ghidorah (in an otherwise neat aerial battle)... or the famous bit where the navy guy yells "Take that, you dinosaur!" while his soldiers on the beach are yelling "Keep firing! What is this thing? Keep firing!". It's almost like 6 year olds wrote the English language translation. Also, while the monster effects are neat, the android running scenes are just laughable... like something Ed Wood would do.
However, I can't completely dismiss this mess of a film as it has plentiful and good scenes of city destruction and monster battles, complete with lots of good explosions, editing, and best-of-all, Akira Ifukube returns as composer with one of his best scores up to that point. It's also neat to see a few familiar Godzilla movie faces, such as Kenji Sahara and Katsuhiko Sasaki, and fortunately the psychic woman from BIOLLANTE is barely in it, making me wonder why she was even cast at all. She singlehandedly ruined the Heisei series, as psychics and Godzilla totally don't mix. This was all much better back in the early 60's when the effects were worse but the scripts were simpler.
So apparently, Japan in World War 2 was in the habit of hiring soldiers in their 50's and 60's who would not age a day in the next 47 years? Buy some make-up, people! This is the first Godzilla movie to deal heavily with time travel, which can be cool if handled well (BACK TO THE FUTURE) but if handled badly (TIMECOP) can quickly get convoluted and messy, or like this film make no sense at all. It doesn't help that several science fiction elements are jumbled together, complete with androids, flying saucers, biogenetically engineered pets who mutate into Godzilla's biggest foe, etc.
After the groundbreaking work on 1985 and BIOLLANTE, the special effects work here is definitely a mixed bag with lots of good pyrotechnics and miniature skylines that look almost real, but some poor model photography, frequently out of focus. The acting from the non-Japanese cast members (like the bad guys and the US servicemen in the world war 2 flashback) is dire, and for some reason baby Godzilla sounds like Rodan (or Gamera when he gets hurt). I have a feeling Sony/Columbia/Tristar dubbed the Heisei series badly on purpose just to make their GODZILLA 98 movie look better in comparison.
The English dubbing here is ATROCIOUS (even worse than GODZILLA 2000) with such instances as when a fighter pilot shrieks "I'm.... I'm spinning!" when he rolls his plane away from Ghidorah (in an otherwise neat aerial battle)... or the famous bit where the navy guy yells "Take that, you dinosaur!" while his soldiers on the beach are yelling "Keep firing! What is this thing? Keep firing!". It's almost like 6 year olds wrote the English language translation. Also, while the monster effects are neat, the android running scenes are just laughable... like something Ed Wood would do.
However, I can't completely dismiss this mess of a film as it has plentiful and good scenes of city destruction and monster battles, complete with lots of good explosions, editing, and best-of-all, Akira Ifukube returns as composer with one of his best scores up to that point. It's also neat to see a few familiar Godzilla movie faces, such as Kenji Sahara and Katsuhiko Sasaki, and fortunately the psychic woman from BIOLLANTE is barely in it, making me wonder why she was even cast at all. She singlehandedly ruined the Heisei series, as psychics and Godzilla totally don't mix. This was all much better back in the early 60's when the effects were worse but the scripts were simpler.
Admirable late-night programming - fantastic fun entertainment!
Ben_Cheshire28 June 2004
Hitchcock would have admired the no-nonsense progression of this movie. There's no stuffing around with unnecessary sub-plots or boring character histories basically what we want to hear about is Godzilla.
This is from the modern series of Godzilla redoes. The original was 1955, and millions of camp sequels followed in the 60's - and now these latest movies in the 90's. So this looks like a modern movie - with modern technology available, yet they've retained the puppet-like Godzilla. Many have complained at how fake it looks - but considering all the other self-reference, they've definitely done it one purpose. Why do Godzilla computer animated when the vintage puppet Godzilla is so fun!
There's nothing better than a camp movie that knows its camp - this is very fun stuff. For example, the obvious parody of American sci-fi flicks: we see two US soldiers discussing casually how they'll take over the island they've just discovered "yes, the stars and stripes will fly here too." And they see our heroes flying in on their time machine/ufo and think its a space ship (which it is). One says to the other: "Let's just keep this secret. You can tell your son about it, when he's born, Major Spielberg." The slickness of the entertainment actually is the best homage to Spielberg here. These are the kinds of movies Spielberg makes, and the kind of movies we all used to love when we were kids. Good on them, I say.
There is plenty of sci-fi action: UFOs, time machines and futuristic creatures. There are also references to American war movies in the war-like sequences with US troops fighting Godzilla on the Bikini Atoll (or whatever atoll it is - one famous for Nuclear testing). There's adventure, also: the troupe going back in a time machine to 1954 to try and wipe Godzilla from existence is a very exciting adventure premise.
7/10. Thoroughly recommended entertainment.
This is from the modern series of Godzilla redoes. The original was 1955, and millions of camp sequels followed in the 60's - and now these latest movies in the 90's. So this looks like a modern movie - with modern technology available, yet they've retained the puppet-like Godzilla. Many have complained at how fake it looks - but considering all the other self-reference, they've definitely done it one purpose. Why do Godzilla computer animated when the vintage puppet Godzilla is so fun!
There's nothing better than a camp movie that knows its camp - this is very fun stuff. For example, the obvious parody of American sci-fi flicks: we see two US soldiers discussing casually how they'll take over the island they've just discovered "yes, the stars and stripes will fly here too." And they see our heroes flying in on their time machine/ufo and think its a space ship (which it is). One says to the other: "Let's just keep this secret. You can tell your son about it, when he's born, Major Spielberg." The slickness of the entertainment actually is the best homage to Spielberg here. These are the kinds of movies Spielberg makes, and the kind of movies we all used to love when we were kids. Good on them, I say.
There is plenty of sci-fi action: UFOs, time machines and futuristic creatures. There are also references to American war movies in the war-like sequences with US troops fighting Godzilla on the Bikini Atoll (or whatever atoll it is - one famous for Nuclear testing). There's adventure, also: the troupe going back in a time machine to 1954 to try and wipe Godzilla from existence is a very exciting adventure premise.
7/10. Thoroughly recommended entertainment.
Take that, you dinosaur!
E102y11 July 2000
Time travel movies mess with my head. However, GOJIRA VS KINGUGIDORA is the only time travel movie I can follow. To a certain extent. Like, when Big G has been erased from time, why do the Japanese folks still talk about him?
Godzilla is easily at his best here, with his battles with King Ghidorah, the JSDF and their maser tanks and when he gives Sapporo and the Shinjuku distrcit a lovely pounding. Best bit: Big G torching Shindo.
King Ghidorah is good in this movie, but his fight with the jets is not very good. I think the ultimate Ghidorah would be a cross between this one and the Ghidorah from MOSURA 3.
Koichi Kawakita does a lovely job on the special effects. I always prefer Godzilla to battle at night, as that's when the opticals (eg Godzilla atomic heat beam) are at their best.
Akira Ifukube really breathes life into this movie, especially with the use of the Godzilla theme on the end credits.
Roll on GOJIRA VS MOSURA!
Godzilla is easily at his best here, with his battles with King Ghidorah, the JSDF and their maser tanks and when he gives Sapporo and the Shinjuku distrcit a lovely pounding. Best bit: Big G torching Shindo.
King Ghidorah is good in this movie, but his fight with the jets is not very good. I think the ultimate Ghidorah would be a cross between this one and the Ghidorah from MOSURA 3.
Koichi Kawakita does a lovely job on the special effects. I always prefer Godzilla to battle at night, as that's when the opticals (eg Godzilla atomic heat beam) are at their best.
Akira Ifukube really breathes life into this movie, especially with the use of the Godzilla theme on the end credits.
Roll on GOJIRA VS MOSURA!
Loopy plot but otherwise fun film
jamesrupert201411 January 2018
Once again swarmy aliens (this time from Earth's future) show up, make promises involving monsters, and then turn out to be up to no good. "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" takes place in three time periods, Lagos Island in 1944, Tokyo in 1992, and somewhere near what was Japan in 2204. Like most time travel stories, the plot does not bear close scrutiny (despite some fans' best explanatory efforts, the story is riddled with inconsistencies and paradoxes), but is imaginative and allows for a variety of kaiju action. Briefly, the 'Futurians' plan to eliminate Godzilla from the time-line by preventing his 'genesis' (by teleporting the dying proto-Godzilla dinosaur to the bottom of the Bering Strait where it won't be exposed to the 1953 H-bomb tests that turn it into the monster) BUT sneakily, they leave behind three little creatures that, when exposed to the radiation, become King Ghidorah who is under Futurian control and will be used to threaten/blackmail 1992 Japan BUT, as you apparently can't go anywhere on Earth without being exposed to radiation (our bad), Godzilla-genesis occurs anyway, producing a larger, meaner monster who defeats Ghidorah, sending him to the bottom of the ocean battered and minus one head BUT, in 2204 "We have the technology, we can rebuild him". The monster action in this outing (the 18th) is excellent, with the new 100 m tall Godzilla looking mean and predatory, while his adversary is a beautifully realized vision of vast wings and writhing golden snakes. The only thing lacking (IMO) with this iteration of the three-headed dragon is the original three-tone electro-chirpy calls ("three heads, two tails, and a voice like a bell"), which have been replaced by a more generic, less interesting, roar. The increased size of the monsters limits the details of the buildings that they trash, but the destruction scenes are still very good, especially the final showdown in Tokyo. On the downside, the dubbing on the version I watched (Tristar DVD) is weak, with random Shatneresque pauses in awkward sentences and some terrible lines such as "Take that, you dinosaur" (perhaps a feeble attempt at comic-relief). The film also liberally 'borrows' images from other works, such as a cyborg that runs fast in slow-motion and who, at one point, emerges from a fiery car accident with the underlying metal showing (the cyborg is a gimmicky character the movie could have done without). Overall: despite the derivative and implausible plot, mild peachiness, and (allegedly) rampant anti-Americanism, the film's pacing, excellent visuals, and great Akira Ifukube score make it a fun entry into the long-running franchise.
Well... at least Emmy was SMOK'N HOT!!! Blu-ray: Decent A:7 V:7 (a bit washed-out)
lathe-of-heaven28 May 2014
I know, not much of a helpful Summary, sorry about that...
However, it is quite true : )
Not a whole lot to say about another 'Godzilla' movie, but it DEFINITELY was fun! Overall a decent and novel concept. And the use of different time periods was kind of nice. I must say, that the Americans in the WWII segment were frigg'n HILARIOUS!
The overall concept of the people coming back through time was novel (no spoiler; you see this almost immediately...)
Unfortunately, someone already used 'Take THAT You Dinosaur!' as their summary...
And, seeing those ULTRA-white guys from the future spouting off near perfect Japanese was awesome! They couldn't POSSIBLY have chosen actors who could have looked more the absolute antithesis of Japanese if they tried. That main guy's eyes were SUPER creepy! 'Wadawada...'
Oh, and the android's seemingly random lapses into English were great!
'YES BOSS'
'PERFECT...!'
However, it is quite true : )
Not a whole lot to say about another 'Godzilla' movie, but it DEFINITELY was fun! Overall a decent and novel concept. And the use of different time periods was kind of nice. I must say, that the Americans in the WWII segment were frigg'n HILARIOUS!
The overall concept of the people coming back through time was novel (no spoiler; you see this almost immediately...)
Unfortunately, someone already used 'Take THAT You Dinosaur!' as their summary...
And, seeing those ULTRA-white guys from the future spouting off near perfect Japanese was awesome! They couldn't POSSIBLY have chosen actors who could have looked more the absolute antithesis of Japanese if they tried. That main guy's eyes were SUPER creepy! 'Wadawada...'
Oh, and the android's seemingly random lapses into English were great!
'YES BOSS'
'PERFECT...!'
Good action, big plot holes.
The_Dinosaur17 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
First off, I should point out the 7/10 rating I am giving this movie is not by the same standards I would any other film. It is a 7 out of 10 for a Godzilla movie. I look at is as "what was the film maker trying to do, and did they accomplish that?", now that I have made that clear, I will get into the review.
The story of this film revolves highly around time traveling, but this is where the plot of the film has the biggest set back. The time travelers came back from the 23rd century to stop Godzilla from destroying Japan, or so they tell the people in 1992 Japan. The problem is, when they find Godzilla and remove him from history they go back to 1992, and Godzilla has never existed, yet people remember him. Not to mention it actually creates a paradox. It would take me forever to explain the flaws in this film based solely of the time travel aspect.
Once you get past that, it is a well put together movie. Higher production values then most other Godzilla films. Good characters, some funny scenes and very good action sequences. King Ghidorah looks good in both normal and mecha forms and creates a believable(for a Godzilla film) opponent.
The film has been critiqued for being anti-American and pro-Japanese, but the only person who would see it that way would be a jingoistic individual to say the least. The reason it was critiqued for being anti-American is because you see Godzilla(as a dinosaur, not yet mutated) attack American troops during WW2. Funny, because Godzilla had only been attacking Japanese troops in the past movies and in future movies. The attacking American troops is even worked into the plot, as Gdzilla later destroys a ex Japanese soldier who thought Godzilla had saved them from the US troops. The other part of the criticism of it being anti-American is that the people from the 23rd century say that Japan becomes the dominant global power of the world. Pro-Japanese, yes. Anti-American is stretching it. The reason of Japan becoming the dominant global power works in the context of the story they are telling.
As a Godzilla movie, this is one of the more memorable ones, if you can get past the time travel plot holes.
The story of this film revolves highly around time traveling, but this is where the plot of the film has the biggest set back. The time travelers came back from the 23rd century to stop Godzilla from destroying Japan, or so they tell the people in 1992 Japan. The problem is, when they find Godzilla and remove him from history they go back to 1992, and Godzilla has never existed, yet people remember him. Not to mention it actually creates a paradox. It would take me forever to explain the flaws in this film based solely of the time travel aspect.
Once you get past that, it is a well put together movie. Higher production values then most other Godzilla films. Good characters, some funny scenes and very good action sequences. King Ghidorah looks good in both normal and mecha forms and creates a believable(for a Godzilla film) opponent.
The film has been critiqued for being anti-American and pro-Japanese, but the only person who would see it that way would be a jingoistic individual to say the least. The reason it was critiqued for being anti-American is because you see Godzilla(as a dinosaur, not yet mutated) attack American troops during WW2. Funny, because Godzilla had only been attacking Japanese troops in the past movies and in future movies. The attacking American troops is even worked into the plot, as Gdzilla later destroys a ex Japanese soldier who thought Godzilla had saved them from the US troops. The other part of the criticism of it being anti-American is that the people from the 23rd century say that Japan becomes the dominant global power of the world. Pro-Japanese, yes. Anti-American is stretching it. The reason of Japan becoming the dominant global power works in the context of the story they are telling.
As a Godzilla movie, this is one of the more memorable ones, if you can get past the time travel plot holes.
Nice kaiju film as a whole, but could've used a little more battle scenes.
vkn11 March 2001
With three heads instead of one, you'd expect Ghidora to be quicker on the uptake than your average kaiju, but instead he just keeps coming back for more beatings. Which can only be good as he's certainly one of the most cool-looking Godzilla foes around.
The storyline in this entry has its good points, but is overall none too tremendous. It makes an interesting attempt at explaining Godzilla's origins, and the character of mister Shindo is quite strong. Trouble is, he's also the only character that has any kind of punch. The rest are about as exciting as a bunch of cardboard cut-outs, and they hamper the pace of this movie quite considerably. Too much time is spent elaborating a truly ludicrous plot that involves time travellers from the future, who are not as nice as they first seem. They first erase Godzilla from the course of Japanese history with some time-travel wizardry, only to replace him with nasty ol' Ghidora who will trash Japan at his leisure with Goji out of the way...or is he?
Trouble is, the time-travel scenario suffers from some very severe plot holes, and the story as a whole tends to be sluggish and dull as well. To such a point even that the monster fight scenes can't -quite- wash away the bad aftertaste of the "human" scenes (I won't even go into the simply pitiful fast-forward effects of the cyborg M-11's Terminator pastiches).
There are plenty of good points, though. The fights and city-stomping scenes are quite solid and look very good. The final battle between Godzilla and a very cool mechanised version of Ghidora is especially commendable (it was great to see the famous Tokyo Metropolitan government building getting crushed). Akira Ifukube's music is as strong as ever, there's a certain feeling of suspense, and Terasawa was even pretty cute, I reckon (oh okay, and Emmy deserves a mention as being an assertive and strong female character in a kaiju film. Heck, she even fights the last battle against Goji). Goji die-hards will no doubt be interested in the scenes that try to explain the real original of Godzilla as well.
So what we end up with is a mix of good and bad points that doesn't quite balance out. For Godzilla fans it's still definitely worth watching, but there is better stuff out there.
The storyline in this entry has its good points, but is overall none too tremendous. It makes an interesting attempt at explaining Godzilla's origins, and the character of mister Shindo is quite strong. Trouble is, he's also the only character that has any kind of punch. The rest are about as exciting as a bunch of cardboard cut-outs, and they hamper the pace of this movie quite considerably. Too much time is spent elaborating a truly ludicrous plot that involves time travellers from the future, who are not as nice as they first seem. They first erase Godzilla from the course of Japanese history with some time-travel wizardry, only to replace him with nasty ol' Ghidora who will trash Japan at his leisure with Goji out of the way...or is he?
Trouble is, the time-travel scenario suffers from some very severe plot holes, and the story as a whole tends to be sluggish and dull as well. To such a point even that the monster fight scenes can't -quite- wash away the bad aftertaste of the "human" scenes (I won't even go into the simply pitiful fast-forward effects of the cyborg M-11's Terminator pastiches).
There are plenty of good points, though. The fights and city-stomping scenes are quite solid and look very good. The final battle between Godzilla and a very cool mechanised version of Ghidora is especially commendable (it was great to see the famous Tokyo Metropolitan government building getting crushed). Akira Ifukube's music is as strong as ever, there's a certain feeling of suspense, and Terasawa was even pretty cute, I reckon (oh okay, and Emmy deserves a mention as being an assertive and strong female character in a kaiju film. Heck, she even fights the last battle against Goji). Goji die-hards will no doubt be interested in the scenes that try to explain the real original of Godzilla as well.
So what we end up with is a mix of good and bad points that doesn't quite balance out. For Godzilla fans it's still definitely worth watching, but there is better stuff out there.
Make my day
abcvision26 August 2014
This film came to my attention when I attended the first Monsterama Con in 2014 in Atlanta. One of the honored guests was Robert Scott Field who played an android. According to Fields, this film has been recognized as the third best Godzilla movie of all time. In Japan it received the equivalent to our Oscar Award. This film delves back to the origin of Godzilla and the epic battle with his equal King Ghidorah. The future visitors to modern 1990 Japan warn of destruction and want to change the course of the future but manipulating the present. A fun use of old school special effects and fun to see movies made pre- CGI. This movie is a joy for any Godzilla enthusiast. His name is Godzilla!
90's style Godzilla in a vintage sci-fi story
drngor11 March 2001
After I first saw Godzilla vs. Biollante, I thought the whole series was going to head in a (pseudo-)realistic direction. However, this movie sort of proved me wrong. It's not that the story itself isn't entertaining, it's just that I'd like to something a little bit more down-to-earth. It feels like it's an old sci fi flick, complete with robots, time travel, laser fights, and teleportation.
The story involves a group of time travelers who come to Japan to seek assistance in preventing Godzilla's birth. The time travellers as well as some modern day Japanese (one of whom is cute Megumi Odaka) go to an island in the Pacific in the middle of WW2 where they witness a dinosaur fighting off American troops. Thinking that this dinosaur will become Godzilla after the H-bomb is dropped, they teleport the dinosaur away. However, the Futurians have an ulterior motive, and King Ghidorah is created. HOWEVER, due to some unfortunate incident, Godzilla TOO is created, leading to numerous city destruction scenes, monster battles, military showdowns, etc.
The special FX range from cheesy to excellent. Godzilla looks cool as does King Ghidorah. The miniatures of the cities are great as usual. The first fight between Godzilla and King Ghidorah is great. The final battle is quite realistic also, great stuff. There are some cheesy FX that deal with the humans (running in super speed, etc.), but luckily the kaiju are shown in reverence.
My main complaints with the film is that Godzilla himself doesn't appear until over an hour in the film. It seemed to take quite a while for him to get on the scene, and then there's not much time in the picture left. Also, the American soldiers are badly acted.
This movie seems to generally be seen as one of the best of the new series. It's a good movie, the plot is good (albeit a bit Terminator-esque), and the monster action is excellent.
The story involves a group of time travelers who come to Japan to seek assistance in preventing Godzilla's birth. The time travellers as well as some modern day Japanese (one of whom is cute Megumi Odaka) go to an island in the Pacific in the middle of WW2 where they witness a dinosaur fighting off American troops. Thinking that this dinosaur will become Godzilla after the H-bomb is dropped, they teleport the dinosaur away. However, the Futurians have an ulterior motive, and King Ghidorah is created. HOWEVER, due to some unfortunate incident, Godzilla TOO is created, leading to numerous city destruction scenes, monster battles, military showdowns, etc.
The special FX range from cheesy to excellent. Godzilla looks cool as does King Ghidorah. The miniatures of the cities are great as usual. The first fight between Godzilla and King Ghidorah is great. The final battle is quite realistic also, great stuff. There are some cheesy FX that deal with the humans (running in super speed, etc.), but luckily the kaiju are shown in reverence.
My main complaints with the film is that Godzilla himself doesn't appear until over an hour in the film. It seemed to take quite a while for him to get on the scene, and then there's not much time in the picture left. Also, the American soldiers are badly acted.
This movie seems to generally be seen as one of the best of the new series. It's a good movie, the plot is good (albeit a bit Terminator-esque), and the monster action is excellent.
"How could any of this be possible?"
rhinocerosfive-113 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of those movies in which people keep saying "That's a great idea!" about the worst ideas you've ever heard. Then they act on them. I like it. This picture's funnier than any 3 dozen Seth Rogen projects. Well, so is SHOAH.
Gojira movies have been cannibalizing their own origin-stories since the 60s, but this one goes further. What can you say about a culture willing to rape its own sacred cultural icons for a quick buck? This travesty presents a WW2 suicide brigade on "the last of the Marshall Islands" presenting arms to a dinosaur who chased the US Marines away. Then the Japanese inexplicably decide not to fight to the last man, and instead abandon the territory annexed on their behalf by this giant lizard. They retreat to the mainland, where one of them becomes a business tycoon.
Then it gets complicated.
Blonde men from the future, irritable over not yet curing male pattern baldness, come back in time in a sort of flying saucer to ask a failed writer and a celebrity psychic for their help in eliminating Godzilla before he destroys Japan. The "help" is questionable, as all these 1992 citizens do is go back to 1944 to watch some closed-circuit TV, but, hey, they shot the script. You would think that by the 90s the Japanese would know better than to trust people in spaceships. Fortunately for Nippon, the white guys - you can tell they're American because they say "nucyaler" - erred by bringing back in time the one Japanese girl left in the future. In a touching display of ancestor worship, she outs their duplicity after donning a flying suit made from ductwork taped to a Sailor Moon backpack. Turns out these time-traveling, fashion-disabled Caucasians are just jealous of Japan's impending economic imperialist takeover of the known world (in the 22d century Japan's going to buy Africa, which sounds more like a liability than an asset). These blondes in padded chintz suits with nonfunctioning straps and redundant zippers want to replace Godzilla with King Ghidorah, who will destroy all of Japan except Tokyo. A strange choice, but Toho's been known to go out of its way not to have to build that Tokyo skyline set again.
Sure enough, we are given the alternate spectacle of Fukuoka ("my garden city") and some other heretofore unscathed-by-rubber-monster metropolitan areas being laid waste by a flying gold metalflake 1/3 of a hydra. In a surprise revelation, we are informed that King Ghidorah was created from some hand puppets left too long in the microwave. Godzilla also does his share of demolition as the movie winds down. Wait - didn't the spaceship blondes already destroy Godzilla? Yeah, they killed him in the third reel. But nobody expected that the Japanese of 1992 had a secret submarine filled with nuclear missiles - "Ha ha, don't worry. We don't keep it in Japanese waters" - with which to jumpstart a new Godzilla from the bones of an old dinosaur. Only they don't have to, because a leaky old nuclear shipwreck has already made Godzilla whole again. Oh, and Godzilla finally gets to Tokyo, reuniting with his old army buddy in a heartwarming moment of tearful recognition. They look into each other's eyes, and Godzilla nods as if to say, "Gotta do it, man." The tycoon nods in understanding. Then Godzilla blows him up.
I should also mention here that, in order to prevent Godzilla's revamped angry self from fulfilling his destiny and destroying Japan, the Japanese girl from the future goes BACK to the future to ask for help from - yes - a balding white man. Probably because he pities her as the sole Asian character from the 23d century, he agrees to build a Mecha-Ghidora and send it back to the 1990s, so that together, these two giant monsters can, uh, fulfill Godzilla's destiny and destroy Japan. In a wonderful nod to those notoriously self-willed whipping heads, the girl piloting Mecha-Ghidora has trouble controlling the joystick.
This Godzilla suit design owes much to the Sumo - his thighs are flabby enough to double for Rush Limbaugh's, and his belly and chest are thick and ponderous. But there's more exploding masonry in this picture than in most of his adventures, which makes up for a lot. Also features a man with a passing resemblance to Robert Patrick playing a killer robot. Yes, in the future even the robots will have bald spots. Plus Megumi Odaka, reprising her role as Micki, the only Japanese girl ever born with ears larger than her Disney namesake and an acting style even bigger than that. It's not her fault: many Japanese directors seem to feel that a seventy-foot screen isn't quite large enough to display the emotion of a human face. I did some acting for Japanese television, and I can tell you, they push you to go for it. They apparently urge their writers in the same way. Thank God.
Gojira movies have been cannibalizing their own origin-stories since the 60s, but this one goes further. What can you say about a culture willing to rape its own sacred cultural icons for a quick buck? This travesty presents a WW2 suicide brigade on "the last of the Marshall Islands" presenting arms to a dinosaur who chased the US Marines away. Then the Japanese inexplicably decide not to fight to the last man, and instead abandon the territory annexed on their behalf by this giant lizard. They retreat to the mainland, where one of them becomes a business tycoon.
Then it gets complicated.
Blonde men from the future, irritable over not yet curing male pattern baldness, come back in time in a sort of flying saucer to ask a failed writer and a celebrity psychic for their help in eliminating Godzilla before he destroys Japan. The "help" is questionable, as all these 1992 citizens do is go back to 1944 to watch some closed-circuit TV, but, hey, they shot the script. You would think that by the 90s the Japanese would know better than to trust people in spaceships. Fortunately for Nippon, the white guys - you can tell they're American because they say "nucyaler" - erred by bringing back in time the one Japanese girl left in the future. In a touching display of ancestor worship, she outs their duplicity after donning a flying suit made from ductwork taped to a Sailor Moon backpack. Turns out these time-traveling, fashion-disabled Caucasians are just jealous of Japan's impending economic imperialist takeover of the known world (in the 22d century Japan's going to buy Africa, which sounds more like a liability than an asset). These blondes in padded chintz suits with nonfunctioning straps and redundant zippers want to replace Godzilla with King Ghidorah, who will destroy all of Japan except Tokyo. A strange choice, but Toho's been known to go out of its way not to have to build that Tokyo skyline set again.
Sure enough, we are given the alternate spectacle of Fukuoka ("my garden city") and some other heretofore unscathed-by-rubber-monster metropolitan areas being laid waste by a flying gold metalflake 1/3 of a hydra. In a surprise revelation, we are informed that King Ghidorah was created from some hand puppets left too long in the microwave. Godzilla also does his share of demolition as the movie winds down. Wait - didn't the spaceship blondes already destroy Godzilla? Yeah, they killed him in the third reel. But nobody expected that the Japanese of 1992 had a secret submarine filled with nuclear missiles - "Ha ha, don't worry. We don't keep it in Japanese waters" - with which to jumpstart a new Godzilla from the bones of an old dinosaur. Only they don't have to, because a leaky old nuclear shipwreck has already made Godzilla whole again. Oh, and Godzilla finally gets to Tokyo, reuniting with his old army buddy in a heartwarming moment of tearful recognition. They look into each other's eyes, and Godzilla nods as if to say, "Gotta do it, man." The tycoon nods in understanding. Then Godzilla blows him up.
I should also mention here that, in order to prevent Godzilla's revamped angry self from fulfilling his destiny and destroying Japan, the Japanese girl from the future goes BACK to the future to ask for help from - yes - a balding white man. Probably because he pities her as the sole Asian character from the 23d century, he agrees to build a Mecha-Ghidora and send it back to the 1990s, so that together, these two giant monsters can, uh, fulfill Godzilla's destiny and destroy Japan. In a wonderful nod to those notoriously self-willed whipping heads, the girl piloting Mecha-Ghidora has trouble controlling the joystick.
This Godzilla suit design owes much to the Sumo - his thighs are flabby enough to double for Rush Limbaugh's, and his belly and chest are thick and ponderous. But there's more exploding masonry in this picture than in most of his adventures, which makes up for a lot. Also features a man with a passing resemblance to Robert Patrick playing a killer robot. Yes, in the future even the robots will have bald spots. Plus Megumi Odaka, reprising her role as Micki, the only Japanese girl ever born with ears larger than her Disney namesake and an acting style even bigger than that. It's not her fault: many Japanese directors seem to feel that a seventy-foot screen isn't quite large enough to display the emotion of a human face. I did some acting for Japanese television, and I can tell you, they push you to go for it. They apparently urge their writers in the same way. Thank God.
No more Mr. Nice Godzilla
TVholic3 November 1999
"Size does matter." So proclaimed the ad campaign of the Americanized Godzilla foisted upon us by Emmerich and Devlin in 1998. If only they had paid more attention to movies like this before they tried to retool Godzilla. Because their overgrown iguana is no match for the towering behemoth of indestructible, nuclear-fueled fury introduced in this movie.
Untold legions of fans grew up with the original Godzilla in the '60s and '70s. We found comfort in the quite cheesy special effects, massive plot holes, extreme overacting, and hilarious dubbing. Not to mention the martial strains of Akira Ifukube's trademark musical scores. The heisei series of second generation Godzilla movies may have offended some purists, but did stick with many of the same elements. Many of the effects were now very good, but others were still unintentionally laughable. The dubbing, of course, was as bad as ever. Logic is the last thing one should expect from a Godzilla plot, and it's not very much in evidence here. But this is all how we like it!
From the tortuous contortions of the time travel plot came a new Godzilla, leaner and far meaner than ever before. No more would he be the protector of Japan. Along with the new origin backstory for Godzilla, we're treated to one for this new King Ghidora, which resembles the original Ghidrah only in name and appearance. But while it took the combined might of all of Japan's monsters to slay Ghidrah, the new and improved Godzilla singlehandedly slew Ghidorah without working up a sweat. Truly a force to be reckoned with.
It's a shame that the second generation films were never released theatrically in the US and only recently released on video. Americans deserved to see that there wasn't a vacuum between Godzilla 1985 and Godzilla (1998). And a generation of American kids, too young to find the old films interesting, lost a chance to be hooked on what's arguably a cultural icon.
Untold legions of fans grew up with the original Godzilla in the '60s and '70s. We found comfort in the quite cheesy special effects, massive plot holes, extreme overacting, and hilarious dubbing. Not to mention the martial strains of Akira Ifukube's trademark musical scores. The heisei series of second generation Godzilla movies may have offended some purists, but did stick with many of the same elements. Many of the effects were now very good, but others were still unintentionally laughable. The dubbing, of course, was as bad as ever. Logic is the last thing one should expect from a Godzilla plot, and it's not very much in evidence here. But this is all how we like it!
From the tortuous contortions of the time travel plot came a new Godzilla, leaner and far meaner than ever before. No more would he be the protector of Japan. Along with the new origin backstory for Godzilla, we're treated to one for this new King Ghidora, which resembles the original Ghidrah only in name and appearance. But while it took the combined might of all of Japan's monsters to slay Ghidrah, the new and improved Godzilla singlehandedly slew Ghidorah without working up a sweat. Truly a force to be reckoned with.
It's a shame that the second generation films were never released theatrically in the US and only recently released on video. Americans deserved to see that there wasn't a vacuum between Godzilla 1985 and Godzilla (1998). And a generation of American kids, too young to find the old films interesting, lost a chance to be hooked on what's arguably a cultural icon.
better drama than sci fi; but is that what we want?
winner5512 October 2006
Except for the Doctor Who TV series, I always find time-travel stories disappointing. Time-travel itself is an inherently absurd idea: it assumes that space is absolute. This means if you travel back in time from Tokyo in 2006, you should end up in Tokyo in about, say, 1906.
However, the scientific fact is that space, like time is relative to the objects moving about in it. If you could really travel back in time from Tokyo, 2006, to 1906, you would probably end up floating about in empty space, where your cells would collapse long before you suffocated from lack of oxygen. As for Tokyo, it would still be there on the planet earth, which would be somewhere else in its orbit, millions of miles - perhaps light years - away.
However, I say again that space and time are both relative, and according to Einstein's principle of matter-energy conversion (which is a necessary assumption for a relativistically structured universe, since it helps to explain how movement can occur in a differentiated space with multiple time-functions), if you could travel in any direction "through" time, you would at some point attain the speed of light; and at this point your body transmutes into quanta, and you become light - except that the "you" that you were before this would be dead. So, farewell to Tokyo.
This film is no exception. As other reviewers here have noted, one learns to tolerate fake science from Godzilla films - for instance, he's always described as a radioactively mutated dinosaur, when we all know that he's really a fire-breathing dragon. But as other reviewers have noted, the fake science here is just unacceptably annoying, because the film-makers can't come up with a narrative continuity that makes sense for it.
The film does have a dramatic integrity, concerning the relationship between the Japanese soldiers and the dinosaur/ Godzilla that saves them; and I can imagine a whole movie developing this idea narratively; unfortunately, this isn't it.
also, I have to say that, as a long-time Godzilla fan, I don't care for the effort to make Ghidorah into a good-guy saving Tokyo from Godzilla; cyborg or not, he's just not made for that role, he obviously exists for one purpose, which is to destroy things and people.
A second rate entry into the later Godzilla series.
However, the scientific fact is that space, like time is relative to the objects moving about in it. If you could really travel back in time from Tokyo, 2006, to 1906, you would probably end up floating about in empty space, where your cells would collapse long before you suffocated from lack of oxygen. As for Tokyo, it would still be there on the planet earth, which would be somewhere else in its orbit, millions of miles - perhaps light years - away.
However, I say again that space and time are both relative, and according to Einstein's principle of matter-energy conversion (which is a necessary assumption for a relativistically structured universe, since it helps to explain how movement can occur in a differentiated space with multiple time-functions), if you could travel in any direction "through" time, you would at some point attain the speed of light; and at this point your body transmutes into quanta, and you become light - except that the "you" that you were before this would be dead. So, farewell to Tokyo.
This film is no exception. As other reviewers here have noted, one learns to tolerate fake science from Godzilla films - for instance, he's always described as a radioactively mutated dinosaur, when we all know that he's really a fire-breathing dragon. But as other reviewers have noted, the fake science here is just unacceptably annoying, because the film-makers can't come up with a narrative continuity that makes sense for it.
The film does have a dramatic integrity, concerning the relationship between the Japanese soldiers and the dinosaur/ Godzilla that saves them; and I can imagine a whole movie developing this idea narratively; unfortunately, this isn't it.
also, I have to say that, as a long-time Godzilla fan, I don't care for the effort to make Ghidorah into a good-guy saving Tokyo from Godzilla; cyborg or not, he's just not made for that role, he obviously exists for one purpose, which is to destroy things and people.
A second rate entry into the later Godzilla series.
Don't miss this one
JohnSeal4 December 1999
The first of Toho's new cycle of Godzilla features is also the best. It explains a considerable amount of daikaiju mythology (the creation of Godzilla, his love/hate relationship with Japan, the creation of Ghidrah) and has an exciting story with political overtones that also explores the love/hate relationship between Japan and the United States. Top rate.
a true clash of the titans
notyep0517988 April 2004
This Godzilla film, being the third in the second series, offers a lot of things for the fan . This is the plot: People from the future come to present day Japan to warn the citizens about the threat that is Godzilla and that he will totally destroy Japan and offer their assistance to get rid of it. The futurians deves a plan to go back to the past to the event in which Godzilla was created by moving him from the site where the atomic bomb was used to create him to a neutral location. However, the futurians have an ulterior motive, they create King Ghidorah and use him to destroy Japan, for economical reasons. Unfortunately thier plan to get rid of Godzilla backfires greatly. Not only did they not get rid of Godzilla, but he comes back bigger and more powerful than he was before, and that spells major trouble for both the futurians and Japan.
One of the most overrated of the Godzilla franchise
zackeryburgedd29 August 2011
I'm sorry, but people give this film to much credit. While its not the best or the worst, its okay. For me I don't see why. For me this is another way for Japan of saying we are still angry about World War II since the Americans are bad actors and seem stupid (The reference to Steven Spielberg and Terminator was just pointless) And the aliens from the future are Caucasian who want to destroy Japan. And I've seen both the English and Japanese versions and the English version is just bad.
Now despite my complaints I have good things to say about the movie. Such as the fight scenes between Godzilla vs King Ghidorah are just awesome. But to be honest I like the original King Ghidorah better than the Heisei version. And the music is just great. I know in all my reviews of Japanese monster movies I always compliment Akira Ifukube for his music and here its great as ever. I actually like Mecha-King Ghidorah in this. It was awesome and it did something new with King Ghidorah. Overall this movie wasn't bad, but I think this movie is overrated with Godzilla fans.
Now despite my complaints I have good things to say about the movie. Such as the fight scenes between Godzilla vs King Ghidorah are just awesome. But to be honest I like the original King Ghidorah better than the Heisei version. And the music is just great. I know in all my reviews of Japanese monster movies I always compliment Akira Ifukube for his music and here its great as ever. I actually like Mecha-King Ghidorah in this. It was awesome and it did something new with King Ghidorah. Overall this movie wasn't bad, but I think this movie is overrated with Godzilla fans.
Toho's titanic titans battle through time and space.
kevinxirau11 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Now this is a true classic. For years, Godzilla has battled his archenemy King Ghidorah for Earth's survival. In the past, the King of the Monsters required help from other creatures in order to defeat the three-headed tyrant, but this time he will fight alone for the first time in a battle that shakes the foundations of time.
When a mysterious UFO appears, the military goes in to investigate. Out comes people from the future who warn Japan of an incoming doom caused by Godzilla. With Japan's permission, they set out to try and erase Godzilla from history by using time travel to prevent his mutation by the atomic bomb. However, not all is as it seems. The warning they gave was a load of crap. They wanted to get rid of Godzilla so that their monster King Ghidorah can destroy Japan. Luck is on Japan's side as Godzilla is reborn and heads off to destroy his three-headed nemesis once and for all.
The story is rather intriguing and it's cool that they explain Godzilla's origin a little more. Seeing the King of the Monsters before he got mutated is a true pleasure. The action scenes are a must-see. Building's getting smashed and Godzilla and Ghidorah beating each other to a pulp are what it's all about. The use of music is great, ranging from slow and mysterious to action-packed and menacing. There's also a nice little joke about Steven Spielberg somewhere in the middle of the film.
I do have a few problems with this installment of the series. Some of the dialogue is pretty crappy, corny lines and over-the-top voices throughout the film. There are also a few dumb moments and a bit of a plot hole with the whole time traveling thing.
Nonetheless, this is still a worthy edition for the series. With great action, story, music, effects, and a few touching moments, Godzilla vs King Ghidorah is a true Godzilla classic. All hail the King of the Monsters.
When a mysterious UFO appears, the military goes in to investigate. Out comes people from the future who warn Japan of an incoming doom caused by Godzilla. With Japan's permission, they set out to try and erase Godzilla from history by using time travel to prevent his mutation by the atomic bomb. However, not all is as it seems. The warning they gave was a load of crap. They wanted to get rid of Godzilla so that their monster King Ghidorah can destroy Japan. Luck is on Japan's side as Godzilla is reborn and heads off to destroy his three-headed nemesis once and for all.
The story is rather intriguing and it's cool that they explain Godzilla's origin a little more. Seeing the King of the Monsters before he got mutated is a true pleasure. The action scenes are a must-see. Building's getting smashed and Godzilla and Ghidorah beating each other to a pulp are what it's all about. The use of music is great, ranging from slow and mysterious to action-packed and menacing. There's also a nice little joke about Steven Spielberg somewhere in the middle of the film.
I do have a few problems with this installment of the series. Some of the dialogue is pretty crappy, corny lines and over-the-top voices throughout the film. There are also a few dumb moments and a bit of a plot hole with the whole time traveling thing.
Nonetheless, this is still a worthy edition for the series. With great action, story, music, effects, and a few touching moments, Godzilla vs King Ghidorah is a true Godzilla classic. All hail the King of the Monsters.
Time travel machinations and "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah"
dee.reid28 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Today, I viewed 1991's "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" for the first time since I was in middle school. I've always considered "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah," the third entry in the second-generation Heisei-Era "Godzilla" series, to be this series' low point.
I've always been quite disappointed with this film, and my feelings haven't changed.
"Godzilla 1985"/"The Return of Godzilla" (1984), the first film in the Heisei series, got things off on the right foot, by reintroducing Godzilla to a new generation of film-goers, since his last appearance in the first-generation Showa-Era film, "Terror of Mechagodzilla" (1975). In that last Showa-Era film, Godzilla was a hero. With "Godzilla 1985"/"The Return of Godzilla," Godzilla was returned to his roots as a rampaging menace. The next film in the Heisei series, "Godzilla vs. Biollante" (1989), was the series high point, in my opinion, and is my favorite film from this series; it's also my favorite "Godzilla" film after "Gojira" (1954).
The Heisei-Era could only keep going higher, or it could stumble immensely, and "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" ended up being the first misfire the Heisei Era would see. Perhaps one reason for my disappointment was because Kazuki Omori, who wrote and directed "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah," had done such a phenomenal job writing and directing "Godzilla vs. Biollante" just two years earlier. I don't know what happened, but it's generally widely known that despite being well-received by critics and audiences in Japan, "Godzilla vs. Biollante" was ultimately a financial disappointment for Toho - who blamed the lack of familiar monsters and a much darker, adult tone for its poor box office performance. They sought to remedy that by reintroducing one of Godzilla's most famous foes for their next film - in addition to a generally lighter tone.
For "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah," the film opens up like "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951), before moving into a confusing time travel plot that's like a combination of the "Terminator" series and the "Back to the Future" trilogy. In 1992, a UFO is spotted flying over the skies of Japan. It ultimately settles in the area around Mt. Fuji. The ship's occupants reveal themselves to not be aliens, but human time travelers from the 23rd century (2204). They introduce themselves as their leader, the American Wilson (Chuck Wilson), the Russian Grenchiko (Richard Berger), and the Japanese Emmy Kano (the late Anna Nakagawa). They reveal that in the future, Godzilla will completely destroy Japan, and they've come to the present-day to eliminate him.
To do this, they must travel back in time - accompanied by writer Kenichiro Terasawa (Kosuke Toyohara) and psychic Miki Saegusa (Heisei series regular, the beautiful Megumi Odaka) - to 1944 at the height of World War II, to transport the so-called "Godzillasaurus," the previously undiscovered dinosaur species that 10 years later, would be exposed to radioactive fallout from the American hydrogen bomb testing that took place in the Marshall Islands, and would eventually become Godzilla. However, this same Godzillasaurus had inadvertently saved a garrison of the Imperial Japanese Army that was under attack from Pacific U. S. Naval forces in the area. Yasuaki Shindo (Yoshio Tsuchiya), now a successful Japanese businessman, was the officer leading the garrison and who has kept this secret for 48 years.
However, in a plot twist, it's eventually revealed that the time travelers have an ulterior motive for removing Godzilla from history. It turns out that while they are indeed from the future, they are not the saviors that they claim to be, and are actually terrorists bent on destroying Japan because in the future, Japan will become a major world superpower that will remain unchallenged by the United States, the (former) Soviet Union, and even China. To do this, they've created a giant monster of their own, the three-headed dragon King Ghidorah, who took Godzilla's place in history and is now the greatest threat to the country and the rest of the world. The Japanese are left with a horrible predicament, but feel they have no other option: re-create Godzilla, by bombarding the Godzillasaurus with nuclear missiles in the hope that it will once again become Godzilla and stop King Ghidorah.
"Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" has some bright spots. Its special effects, by the late Koichi Kawakita, are top-notch - but are down-right laughable in some spots. I'm not sure how or why some things turned out so cheaply - especially in some of the sequences with the android M-11 (Robert Scott Field). Considering the state-of-the-art effects work that Kawakita supervised for "Godzilla vs. Biollante," I'm amazed at the sharp decline in their quality for this film.
Another plus for this movie, is that it marked the return of long-time series composer Akira Ifukube (who tragically passed away in 2006), who had been absent from the series in the 16 years since "Terror of Mechagodzilla." While it's nice to hear his music in the series again and some of the themes he creates here are indeed quite rousing and familiar, it's clearly not his best work.
There are some inconsistencies with this film's plot, especially with the traveling backward and forward through time. It's a headache to try to describe here, but ultimately the confusion stems from the traveling back in time, changing history, and returning to the exact same present that you originally departed from. And while I have a deep affection for Japan, its culture and people, I WAS a little uncomfortable with its (perceived) anti-American AND anti-Communist subtexts, and was also troubled by its somewhat positive portrayal of the Imperial Japanese Army. Some viewers might find that a little disturbing...
So, today confirmed my long-standing suspicions about "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" being a low point for the Heisei-Era "Godzilla" films. I'm glad that the series rebounded, however, for 1992's "Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth," which included more impressive special effects and a lush, beautiful score by Akira Ifukube.
6/10.
I've always been quite disappointed with this film, and my feelings haven't changed.
"Godzilla 1985"/"The Return of Godzilla" (1984), the first film in the Heisei series, got things off on the right foot, by reintroducing Godzilla to a new generation of film-goers, since his last appearance in the first-generation Showa-Era film, "Terror of Mechagodzilla" (1975). In that last Showa-Era film, Godzilla was a hero. With "Godzilla 1985"/"The Return of Godzilla," Godzilla was returned to his roots as a rampaging menace. The next film in the Heisei series, "Godzilla vs. Biollante" (1989), was the series high point, in my opinion, and is my favorite film from this series; it's also my favorite "Godzilla" film after "Gojira" (1954).
The Heisei-Era could only keep going higher, or it could stumble immensely, and "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" ended up being the first misfire the Heisei Era would see. Perhaps one reason for my disappointment was because Kazuki Omori, who wrote and directed "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah," had done such a phenomenal job writing and directing "Godzilla vs. Biollante" just two years earlier. I don't know what happened, but it's generally widely known that despite being well-received by critics and audiences in Japan, "Godzilla vs. Biollante" was ultimately a financial disappointment for Toho - who blamed the lack of familiar monsters and a much darker, adult tone for its poor box office performance. They sought to remedy that by reintroducing one of Godzilla's most famous foes for their next film - in addition to a generally lighter tone.
For "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah," the film opens up like "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951), before moving into a confusing time travel plot that's like a combination of the "Terminator" series and the "Back to the Future" trilogy. In 1992, a UFO is spotted flying over the skies of Japan. It ultimately settles in the area around Mt. Fuji. The ship's occupants reveal themselves to not be aliens, but human time travelers from the 23rd century (2204). They introduce themselves as their leader, the American Wilson (Chuck Wilson), the Russian Grenchiko (Richard Berger), and the Japanese Emmy Kano (the late Anna Nakagawa). They reveal that in the future, Godzilla will completely destroy Japan, and they've come to the present-day to eliminate him.
To do this, they must travel back in time - accompanied by writer Kenichiro Terasawa (Kosuke Toyohara) and psychic Miki Saegusa (Heisei series regular, the beautiful Megumi Odaka) - to 1944 at the height of World War II, to transport the so-called "Godzillasaurus," the previously undiscovered dinosaur species that 10 years later, would be exposed to radioactive fallout from the American hydrogen bomb testing that took place in the Marshall Islands, and would eventually become Godzilla. However, this same Godzillasaurus had inadvertently saved a garrison of the Imperial Japanese Army that was under attack from Pacific U. S. Naval forces in the area. Yasuaki Shindo (Yoshio Tsuchiya), now a successful Japanese businessman, was the officer leading the garrison and who has kept this secret for 48 years.
However, in a plot twist, it's eventually revealed that the time travelers have an ulterior motive for removing Godzilla from history. It turns out that while they are indeed from the future, they are not the saviors that they claim to be, and are actually terrorists bent on destroying Japan because in the future, Japan will become a major world superpower that will remain unchallenged by the United States, the (former) Soviet Union, and even China. To do this, they've created a giant monster of their own, the three-headed dragon King Ghidorah, who took Godzilla's place in history and is now the greatest threat to the country and the rest of the world. The Japanese are left with a horrible predicament, but feel they have no other option: re-create Godzilla, by bombarding the Godzillasaurus with nuclear missiles in the hope that it will once again become Godzilla and stop King Ghidorah.
"Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" has some bright spots. Its special effects, by the late Koichi Kawakita, are top-notch - but are down-right laughable in some spots. I'm not sure how or why some things turned out so cheaply - especially in some of the sequences with the android M-11 (Robert Scott Field). Considering the state-of-the-art effects work that Kawakita supervised for "Godzilla vs. Biollante," I'm amazed at the sharp decline in their quality for this film.
Another plus for this movie, is that it marked the return of long-time series composer Akira Ifukube (who tragically passed away in 2006), who had been absent from the series in the 16 years since "Terror of Mechagodzilla." While it's nice to hear his music in the series again and some of the themes he creates here are indeed quite rousing and familiar, it's clearly not his best work.
There are some inconsistencies with this film's plot, especially with the traveling backward and forward through time. It's a headache to try to describe here, but ultimately the confusion stems from the traveling back in time, changing history, and returning to the exact same present that you originally departed from. And while I have a deep affection for Japan, its culture and people, I WAS a little uncomfortable with its (perceived) anti-American AND anti-Communist subtexts, and was also troubled by its somewhat positive portrayal of the Imperial Japanese Army. Some viewers might find that a little disturbing...
So, today confirmed my long-standing suspicions about "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" being a low point for the Heisei-Era "Godzilla" films. I'm glad that the series rebounded, however, for 1992's "Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth," which included more impressive special effects and a lush, beautiful score by Akira Ifukube.
6/10.
Godzilla and King Ghidora Go Back to the Future
japamo13 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Suddenly finding myself determined to watch a loony Toho kaiju extravaganza from beginning to end, I caught 1991's "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" (hereafter "GVKG")on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 8:15 p.m. on Encore. I am indebted to many of the posters who have already meticulously explained GVKG's contorted "time travel" plot. They probably did a better job than I could. Crazy as it is, that plot at least provides a semi-believable origin for both the atomic-powered lizard and the three-headed electricity spewing dragon. They were both mutated by the fallout of American H-Bomb test blasting during World War II, though not at the same time. Godzilla was originally the dinosaur Godzillasaurus, and King Ghidorah was a giant fusion of three cat-sized flying dragon things call dorats. As usual, it takes more than half the movie for the two behemoths to meet, but meet they do, not once but twice.
Until the monsters' cataclysmic clash, we have to endure the usual, somewhat effeminate English dubbing of not only Japanese scientists, military personnel, and corporate CEOs, but also that of futuristic time travelers (including a Terminator-like android called M-11) who arrive in '90s Japan to offer a seemingly magnanimous chance for the nation to get rid of Godzilla forever - go back to the past before the Godzillasaurus was mutated, let the "imperialist" American World War II leave him mortally wounded, and then transport him back to the present to let him die in the ocean. Of course the aliens are not benevolent; fearing the rise of Japan as a conquering superpower, they resurrect and manipulate King Ghidorah to destroy Japan without any interference. The Japanese then decide to mutate the dying Godzillasaurus to help save them, but a nuclear sub explosively beats them to the punch. Godzilla is back but, as they say, the cure is worse than the disease. Now the Japanese must hijack an alien time travel ship to go back to the future to reanimate King Ghidorah, cybernetically fit him out, even give him a human-operated mechanical neck and head to replace the one Godzilla severed in the first battle, and send him back for a rematch. Which monster wins? Does it matter? Is Japan doomed anyway? Oops, I guess I regurgitated the plot again! :S GVKG is goofy typical Toho monster mashing, enhanced somewhat by the nuclear genetic mutation and time-spanning plot, and sometimes remarkable special effects, including a pre-Jurassic Park animation of the Godzillasaurus which "saves" a "noble" Japanese regiment, and especially its deeply grateful commander, from American naval annihilation. Also lurking in the movie is the ambivalent regard Japan has of itself as both a nationalistically and technologically proud but also reckless and potentially destructive (economically and ecologically) Japan. GVKG seems to view America that way as well. Godzilla is the "unfriendly" undying symbol of that country-conquering spirit.
Until the monsters' cataclysmic clash, we have to endure the usual, somewhat effeminate English dubbing of not only Japanese scientists, military personnel, and corporate CEOs, but also that of futuristic time travelers (including a Terminator-like android called M-11) who arrive in '90s Japan to offer a seemingly magnanimous chance for the nation to get rid of Godzilla forever - go back to the past before the Godzillasaurus was mutated, let the "imperialist" American World War II leave him mortally wounded, and then transport him back to the present to let him die in the ocean. Of course the aliens are not benevolent; fearing the rise of Japan as a conquering superpower, they resurrect and manipulate King Ghidorah to destroy Japan without any interference. The Japanese then decide to mutate the dying Godzillasaurus to help save them, but a nuclear sub explosively beats them to the punch. Godzilla is back but, as they say, the cure is worse than the disease. Now the Japanese must hijack an alien time travel ship to go back to the future to reanimate King Ghidorah, cybernetically fit him out, even give him a human-operated mechanical neck and head to replace the one Godzilla severed in the first battle, and send him back for a rematch. Which monster wins? Does it matter? Is Japan doomed anyway? Oops, I guess I regurgitated the plot again! :S GVKG is goofy typical Toho monster mashing, enhanced somewhat by the nuclear genetic mutation and time-spanning plot, and sometimes remarkable special effects, including a pre-Jurassic Park animation of the Godzillasaurus which "saves" a "noble" Japanese regiment, and especially its deeply grateful commander, from American naval annihilation. Also lurking in the movie is the ambivalent regard Japan has of itself as both a nationalistically and technologically proud but also reckless and potentially destructive (economically and ecologically) Japan. GVKG seems to view America that way as well. Godzilla is the "unfriendly" undying symbol of that country-conquering spirit.
Godzilla is new and improved!
OllieSuave-00726 November 2000
Warning: Spoilers
I think this is one of the best Godzilla movies made. Godzilla's origins are finally revealed in this film: a prehistoric dinosaur, dubbed Godzillasaurus, helps a Japanese army defeat their opponents during World War II in 1944 and, 10 years later, mutates into Godzilla after an H-bomb explodes on the island. 47 years later, 3 people from the future called Futurians warn the people of Japan that Godzilla would soon destroy their country completely. So, they decided to bring along three advisers to go back in time to 1944 with them and help tele-port Godzillasaurus away from Lagos Island and into the Bering Sea so he won't get mutated by the bomb. Pretty clever. *maybe a spoiler ahead* However, the Futurians unleash three Dorats (dragon-like creatures) to be exposed by the H-bomb, so 47 years later in 1991, it could mutate in the new-improved King Ghidorah. They plan to use this monster to destroy Japan to prevent the country's future domination. On getting rid of Godzilla, there's nothing powerful enough to stop King Ghidorah.
Yet, the Godzillasaurus was mutated into a new-improved (and larger) Godzilla after a Russian nuclear submarine crashed into it in the Bering Sea. Soon, the two monsters meet and...you let the idea now. It's a fast-paced and pretty good story, although there are some plot holes. Miki Saegusa returns, played a very active role in this film. My favorite part of her in the movie is when she stood on a balcony of her psychic institute and watches, dazed, at the UFO soar across the sky. Also, what's good is the return of composer Akira Ifukube, who wrote a very moving and inspiring score for this film. Some of his music maybe repeated excessively, but it is still enjoyable. One key part of this story is when the character Shindo recognizes Godzilla as the same dinosaur who saved his army on Lagos Island in 1944. When Godzilla arrives to battle King Ghidorah he says: "He'll fight for us again, our savior has come back to protect us." This reminds me of how Godzilla was the "hero" in the 1960s and 1970s Godzilla films. This movie is a must-see for G-Fans.
Grade A
Yet, the Godzillasaurus was mutated into a new-improved (and larger) Godzilla after a Russian nuclear submarine crashed into it in the Bering Sea. Soon, the two monsters meet and...you let the idea now. It's a fast-paced and pretty good story, although there are some plot holes. Miki Saegusa returns, played a very active role in this film. My favorite part of her in the movie is when she stood on a balcony of her psychic institute and watches, dazed, at the UFO soar across the sky. Also, what's good is the return of composer Akira Ifukube, who wrote a very moving and inspiring score for this film. Some of his music maybe repeated excessively, but it is still enjoyable. One key part of this story is when the character Shindo recognizes Godzilla as the same dinosaur who saved his army on Lagos Island in 1944. When Godzilla arrives to battle King Ghidorah he says: "He'll fight for us again, our savior has come back to protect us." This reminds me of how Godzilla was the "hero" in the 1960s and 1970s Godzilla films. This movie is a must-see for G-Fans.
Grade A
Big Three go down in defeat
lastliberal4 July 2007
What a perfect movie for the 4th of July! The fireworks produced by Koichi Kawakita and his crew were spectacular. Both Godzilla and King Ghidorah sent blazing effects that created sparks aplenty for our enjoyment.
The basic story was simple. The Big Three automakers in America went on a mission from the future to destroy Japan's capabilities to build quality cars that Americans want because they could not be bothered to build anything but gas-guzzling SUVs. King Ghidorah, with it's three heads representing Ford, Chrysler and GM, set about destroying Japan until Godzilla was resurrected from the deep to do battle.
OK, maybe that is not the exact story, but it is close enough. Godzilla did come back to battle King Ghidorah and it was a doozy. The forces of good defeated the evil time-travelers while they battled.
This film is a mix of nuclear weapons, time travel, super special effects and good old monster fighting. It is great fun and a spectacular 4th of July fireworks extravaganza.
The basic story was simple. The Big Three automakers in America went on a mission from the future to destroy Japan's capabilities to build quality cars that Americans want because they could not be bothered to build anything but gas-guzzling SUVs. King Ghidorah, with it's three heads representing Ford, Chrysler and GM, set about destroying Japan until Godzilla was resurrected from the deep to do battle.
OK, maybe that is not the exact story, but it is close enough. Godzilla did come back to battle King Ghidorah and it was a doozy. The forces of good defeated the evil time-travelers while they battled.
This film is a mix of nuclear weapons, time travel, super special effects and good old monster fighting. It is great fun and a spectacular 4th of July fireworks extravaganza.
Godzilla goes 88mph
DarthVoorhees17 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
The Achilles heal of these filmed has always been the humans who by default can never be as interesting as the monsters. 'Godzilla vs King Ghidorah' makes up for this somewhat with a goofy but sincere look at time travel that tries to delve into the origins of the big green guy. The faults are as one might expect, the monsters are under utilized for a great deal of the film and those wanting to see the film in the US have to suffer through a pretty awful dubbed version. The strengths? This Godzilla film has an interesting look into the past of the monster even in it's diluted time travel plot.
Godzilla films are nothing if not ambitious. So many of these films try their absolute hardest to deliver layers of exposition of how each entry relates to the monster and how the citizens of Japan try to stop it. The problem is that there is so much repetition of the ideas over and over again. 'Godzilla vs King Ghidorah' deserves some level of praise because of it's time travel plot. The time travelers themselves seem like they've come out of 'Plan 9' but I really like the idea of the monster originating in a World War II subplot. It is an ambitious idea that sort of finds that balance of making up for the fact that Godzilla can be a hero amidst his total destruction of Japan. You do get a satisfaction once Godzilla is brought back to life because this film does sort of have a sense of stakes behind it.
Ghidorah on the other hand does not have a character behind him. We don't really get to grasp why Ghidorah is Godzilla's greatest arch nemesis. The creatures Ghidorah spawns from are beyond ridiculous looking and so any sense of menace the character might have had is greatly limited in the long run. The actual time travelers seem to have complete control over him and so Ghidorah is never able to become his own entity. I imagine a great many Godzilla fans might have been disappointed by this characterization.
The monster battles are all golden. The suits look realistic and menacing and a great deal of destruction is thrown on the screen. This thing has an epic quality that the lesser giant monster films sometimes lack.
Unfortunately once we get past the monsters this film is inhabited by goofy humans. Like I said earlier the time travelers remind me so much of characters from 'Plan 9'. It isn't even the disconnect from adapting the film for Americans, these characters have legitimately bizarre dialogue that is meant to sound poignant but comes off as laughable.
Godzilla gets some decent treatment here. He is the main reason to see this film. Ghidorah and his handlers leave a lot to be desired.
Godzilla films are nothing if not ambitious. So many of these films try their absolute hardest to deliver layers of exposition of how each entry relates to the monster and how the citizens of Japan try to stop it. The problem is that there is so much repetition of the ideas over and over again. 'Godzilla vs King Ghidorah' deserves some level of praise because of it's time travel plot. The time travelers themselves seem like they've come out of 'Plan 9' but I really like the idea of the monster originating in a World War II subplot. It is an ambitious idea that sort of finds that balance of making up for the fact that Godzilla can be a hero amidst his total destruction of Japan. You do get a satisfaction once Godzilla is brought back to life because this film does sort of have a sense of stakes behind it.
Ghidorah on the other hand does not have a character behind him. We don't really get to grasp why Ghidorah is Godzilla's greatest arch nemesis. The creatures Ghidorah spawns from are beyond ridiculous looking and so any sense of menace the character might have had is greatly limited in the long run. The actual time travelers seem to have complete control over him and so Ghidorah is never able to become his own entity. I imagine a great many Godzilla fans might have been disappointed by this characterization.
The monster battles are all golden. The suits look realistic and menacing and a great deal of destruction is thrown on the screen. This thing has an epic quality that the lesser giant monster films sometimes lack.
Unfortunately once we get past the monsters this film is inhabited by goofy humans. Like I said earlier the time travelers remind me so much of characters from 'Plan 9'. It isn't even the disconnect from adapting the film for Americans, these characters have legitimately bizarre dialogue that is meant to sound poignant but comes off as laughable.
Godzilla gets some decent treatment here. He is the main reason to see this film. Ghidorah and his handlers leave a lot to be desired.
Hugely enjoyable in spite of logical flaws
curl-624 June 2006
There's a lot to dislike in this film: awful English scripts, more plot holes than plot, and a long wait before Godzilla finally shows up.
Luckily, all of these flaws are made up for by its awesome monster battles, fantastic music, cheesy humor, and sheer entertainment. In the end, the balance is positive, and anyone who can get over their logical disbelief should have a lot of fun with this movie. It reminds us that there's more to movies than dull realism and sophisticated storytelling.
It's no masterpiece, but its definitely one of the Big G's most fun films.
Luckily, all of these flaws are made up for by its awesome monster battles, fantastic music, cheesy humor, and sheer entertainment. In the end, the balance is positive, and anyone who can get over their logical disbelief should have a lot of fun with this movie. It reminds us that there's more to movies than dull realism and sophisticated storytelling.
It's no masterpiece, but its definitely one of the Big G's most fun films.
A very good movie
jacobjohntaylor18 June 2014
The best Godzilla movie is Godzilla (1998). This is the 18th Godzilla. It is not as good as the 16th Godzilla movie Return of Godzilla. It is not as good as the 17th Godzilla movie Godzilla vs B.i.o.l.l.a.t.e. It is not as good as the 19th Godzilla movie Godzilla and M.o.t.h.r.a and the battle for the earth. But it is still a very good movie. See it. It is scary. It not as good as the the 20th Godzilla movie Godzilla vs M.e.c.h.a Godzilla II. It is not as good as the 15th Godzilla movie Terror of M.e.c.h.a Godzilla. It is not as good as the 21st Godzilla movie Godzilla vs Space Godzilla. It is not as good as the 14th Godzilla movie Godzilla vs M.e.c.h.a Godzilla. But still a very good movie see it.
The most terrible film in a lackluster series
Emideon20 April 2008
I cant understand at all why so many Godzilla fans think this is excellent, one of the best Godzilla films ever in fact. This film is horrible and one of the very few Gojira films I cant stand to watch again (the other being G. vs Megalon).
The plot is too campy to be in the Heisei series, a series that attempted to turn the aging Godzilla franchise into bonafide action films, revolving around ideas that seemed more in place in 1974 than 1991. It just sounded ridiculous, especially with some of the subject matter, take for example the WW2 scene, with the Japanese soldiers praising a dying Godzillasaurus, a mournful and serious tone, take the exuberant former commander turn capitalist and his death, serious seens in a film its fans somehow denote as played for laughs, as a goofy romp with guilty illogical fun, if so than this is easily one of the most tasteless films I've seen, however I think its more likely it was only talent the filmmakers lacked and this was a case of a straight faced action movie gone bad. It was made ever worse by the fact that the special effects are terrible beyond compare, from the jet packs to the android, to the hokey sound effects emitted from everything, its impossible to take anything seriously, and yet the film expects you to, there's no nudges to the camera.
Like nearly all Godzilla films there's a pointless romance, and this is no exception, though something can be said about the fact that this one is especially pointless since and inexplicable. There is literally no reason at all presented for the romance, it just happens and there lives make 360 degree commitments for it. Aside from this the other terrible aspect of this film is dialogue, both the Japanese and English is horrible, clunky and possibly the inspiration for Battlefield Earth.
The Tristar DVD compounds the problems, making everything look grainy, blurred, dim and just plain ugly, the same was for the sound. I first saw the Japanese Region 2 version and the differences are night and day, with the original vibrant colors and texture, the noteworthy score, the fight scenes especially, are actually watchable.
In my opinion, the Heisei series is a disappointment, with the exception of Godzilla 1984 (Japanese version) there is little to praise here, and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah is case in point of this failure. It doesn't even come close to deserving the reputation and fans it gets.
2 out of 10
The plot is too campy to be in the Heisei series, a series that attempted to turn the aging Godzilla franchise into bonafide action films, revolving around ideas that seemed more in place in 1974 than 1991. It just sounded ridiculous, especially with some of the subject matter, take for example the WW2 scene, with the Japanese soldiers praising a dying Godzillasaurus, a mournful and serious tone, take the exuberant former commander turn capitalist and his death, serious seens in a film its fans somehow denote as played for laughs, as a goofy romp with guilty illogical fun, if so than this is easily one of the most tasteless films I've seen, however I think its more likely it was only talent the filmmakers lacked and this was a case of a straight faced action movie gone bad. It was made ever worse by the fact that the special effects are terrible beyond compare, from the jet packs to the android, to the hokey sound effects emitted from everything, its impossible to take anything seriously, and yet the film expects you to, there's no nudges to the camera.
Like nearly all Godzilla films there's a pointless romance, and this is no exception, though something can be said about the fact that this one is especially pointless since and inexplicable. There is literally no reason at all presented for the romance, it just happens and there lives make 360 degree commitments for it. Aside from this the other terrible aspect of this film is dialogue, both the Japanese and English is horrible, clunky and possibly the inspiration for Battlefield Earth.
The Tristar DVD compounds the problems, making everything look grainy, blurred, dim and just plain ugly, the same was for the sound. I first saw the Japanese Region 2 version and the differences are night and day, with the original vibrant colors and texture, the noteworthy score, the fight scenes especially, are actually watchable.
In my opinion, the Heisei series is a disappointment, with the exception of Godzilla 1984 (Japanese version) there is little to praise here, and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah is case in point of this failure. It doesn't even come close to deserving the reputation and fans it gets.
2 out of 10
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