Godzilla vs Destroyah

 

     "GODZILLA DIES!" This was the focus of the advertising. Imagine if the advertisements for Avengers Endgame promoted " Iron Man dies, April 26"; but for this film, it worked. It brought international attention to this installment. Even news sources in the US reported on the film despite it not even getting a release in the states. By this time, Godzilla had already cemented itself as a pop culture icon. It was a big deal like the death of Superman.  This film also ties itself closely with the original. With its adversary being a direct result of the oxygen destroyer which destroyed the original Godzilla forty years prior.  

    The plot involves Godzilla now has red, glowing rashes along his chest and his atomic breath has exponentially increase in power. This is due to him absorbing too much radiation, and is on the verge of exploding to the extent which would destroy the planet. 

Due to this, the military cannot use conventional weapons due to the risk of triggering a explosion. Therefore they use freeze and cadmium based weaponry. They also use a new version of the SuperX called SuperX 3. During this time, a search is conducted to find Godzilla's son who hasn't been seen since the the island on which him and Godzilla lived was destroyed by some sort of volcanic eruption. Various incidents lead to the discovery of a ancient life form which was mutated by the oxygen destroyer's use in 1954. The creatures evolve to various forms. First appearing as tiny organisms which eat away fish in a aquarium. Much like the effects of the oxygen destroyer on the original Godzilla's corpse. They take a large 15 ft form which fights the JSDF. Then they merge to a 200ft form. During an encounter with the JSDF, Godzilla is frozen which manages  to temporarily get his temperature under control.  Meanwhile Godzilla's son is found, but now a young adult dubbed Godzilla Junior. It is determined that Destroyah is the key to preventing Godzilla from melting down. So, they lure Godzilla Junior to Destroyah which draws Godzilla. Godzilla Junior takes on, and defeats the current form of Destroyah. Godzilla shows up, and they unite. They are interrupted by the final form of Destroyah appearing. This form even larger than Godzilla.

  Destroyah carries Godzilla Junior away dropping him from a great height, killing him. Godzilla mourns for his son until turning his rage on Destroyah.  During this time, Godzilla begins to meltdown. Outmatched, Destroyah attempts to escape, but is shot down by the military. Godzilla continues to meltdown. The military uses their freeze weapons to minimize the damage. After his meltdown, Tokyo is left uninhabitable by the radiation. Suddenly, the levels begin to fall. Through the smoke, Godzilla Junior, revived and fully grown by the radiation gives out a roar taking up the mantle as king of the monsters.
The credits roll over footage from the original film and moments throughout the Heisei series.

    Destoyah was a great villain to end the series on. Much like how Godzilla is the result of nuclear power, Destoyah is the result of another one of man's inventions. The device in which man created to combat one monster became a far worse monster.  In addition to Destoyah there's others elements and characters in connection to the '54 film. The characters of Kenkichi Yamane and Yukari Yamane are the grand kids of Dr. Yamane from the first film. Emiko Yamane makes a brief appearance played by original actress Momoko Kōchi. There's a subplot involving a scientist who is on the brink on rediscovering the secret to the oxygen destroyer. G-Force wants him to create one to combat Godzilla. The military seems to finally have their shit together here. They defeat Godzilla for once by freezing him.

And for a first, They are the ones who take down Destroyah. Godzilla's death is presented as a mix of emotions. The military leaders look relieved that their battle with Godzilla is finally over which Psychic Miki Maegusa is sadden that her work with Godzilla is over. Yukari Yamane comments on Tokyo becoming uninhabitable as it being atonement for man's misuse of nuclear energy. The finally shot may have seemed as a hint to a return of Godzilla Junior, but this was never pursued.

   Godzilla vs Destroyah was a great finale to the Heisei Series. It had compelling characters, a inventive story that ties to the original, and top notch fight scenes. The series was supposed  to go on a nine years hiatus for Tri-Star could make their own trilogy of American Godzilla films, but that's a topic for another time.  They ended up bringing Godzilla back four years later for a new millennium.

Here's my Heisei series rankings 

1. Godzilla vs Desroyah
2. Godzilla vs King Ghidorah
3. Godzilla vs Biolante
4. Return of Godzilla
5. Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II
6. Godzilla vs Mothra
7. Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla