Godzilla vs Megaguirus

 

        
     Godzilla vs Megaguirus, while using the same suit as Godzilla 2000, does not share continuity with that film. Rather, it is a direct sequel to the 1954 film, but with some liberties. 

     The film begins with a retelling of the events of the first film, but with the new suit. The major change is there's no mention of the Oxygen Destroyer, indicating this Godzilla merely retreated.

Then Godzilla returns in 1966, and attacks Japan's first nuclear power plant. Japan then must created a new energy source called plasma. This attracts Godzilla in 1996 where the science institute developing the technology is destroyed. What sets this film apart from other Godzilla films is this Godzilla is indicated to be the same as the 1954 monster, rather than a successor. After these events, a special section in the JSDF is formed called the G-Graspers with the mission of combating Godzilla.  They create a black hole gun called Dimension Tide to destroy the monster.  During a test firing,  a prehistoric dragonfly comes through a worm hole and lays a egg. Out of the egg comes meganulon. These creatures were featured in 1956's Rodan. The meganulon molt and become meganula which fly. These meganula feed off of Godzilla and transfer his energy to their queen which turns into Megaguirus, a giant dragonfly capable of taking on Godzilla. 

Godzilla and Megaguirus fight until Godzilla emerges victorious. Godzilla goes onto destroy the rebuilt science institute where a secret plasma generator has been stored. The G-Graspers use Dimension Tide against Godzilla to seemingly success. In a series first, an after credits scene features an earthquake accompanied by Godzilla's roar revealing even a black hole can't defeat the king of the monsters.

     The honest truth is not a lot can be said about this movie. It's a very typical, middle of the road Godzilla film. Not much is inherently bad about it, but there's not much that stands out either. There still is few moments of note. Such as an interesting shot of a characters climbing on Godzilla's back to plant a tracker. Which we rarely get  to see human's that close.

Characters are decent. The lead is a female soldier who wants revenge against Godzilla for killing her superior officer. The other lead is a young scientist who is brought on to reduce the size of Dimension Tide. He flirts with her a little. She responds coldly. She's a live action Tsundere. The fights are competent. They do contain a few Showa style moments like a body slam by Godzilla. This is due to the director, Masaaki Tezuka, being a big fan of King Kong vs Godzilla.  Overall, it's just a basis, but enjoyable Godzilla film.

Godzilla 2000

 

 

  Godzilla 2000 was TOHO's answer to Godzilla 98. It was released just one year after that film in 1999, and the start of the millennium series.  Production started just two months after Emmerich's film. They gave Godzilla a redesign and scaled him down to 170 ft.   

  The film follows the Godzilla Prediction Network(GPN), an small organization with the goal of tracking Godzilla in order to reduce casualties. In contrast, the government agency Crisis Control Intelligence Agency(CCI) wants to kill Godzilla. Immediately, Godzilla is introduced. Probably as pallet cleanser of the '98 Godzilla. The design of this Godzilla is reminiscent of the King Kong vs Godzilla suit. It has a more reptile like snout and larger spines.

It is not stated within the film how long Japan has had to deal with this Godzilla, but the filmmakers have stated this is the second Godzilla in this timeline following the '54 monster.  Meanwhile a large meteor is discovered underwater which turns out to be a UFO which crash landed on Earth millions of years earlier. The military engages Godzilla. They use a new armor piecing missile which actually does some damage. The UFO shows up and Godzilla has a short fight with it resulting in Godzilla missing. Godzilla's atomic breathe is shown to red this time. Seems to just be a cosmetic change. A member of the GPN discovers Godzilla has a healing factor which he names Organizer G1( Regenerator G1 in US edit).

The UFO lands on top of a building in Tokyo where it proceeds to suck up all of the data in the city. Military tries to blow it up, but fails. They determine it wants Godzilla to use Organizer G1 to adapt to Earth's atmosphere. Godzilla shows up, they fight. Godzilla is knocked down, and the UFO absorbs some of Godzilla's abilities. It becomes some weird tentacle creature before falling to the ground.

Godzilla finally destroys the Saucer,  but a new threat arises. Orga the evolved form of the alien. It puts up quite a challenge by using Godzilla's own healing factor to heal itself.

It's final attack stretching its jaw open and attempting to practically swallow Godzilla in order to become a clone. But Godzilla kills it from the inside. Godzilla roars in victory, but rather than go back to sea, he proceeds to destroy more of Tokyo as the credits role.

    This film has nostalgia for me due to it actually getting a theatrical release in the states, and being one of the Godzilla films I owned on VHS. I remember posters for it in a local theater, but never saw it in theaters. Either, I missed it or it never came to the second run theater I always went to. In a way, this film reminds me of Godzilla '14. In that, Godzilla is the title characters, but there's a greater threat which gets most of the focus. In this film, the UFO. The UFO is decent adversary it has pretty powerful attacks and evades many of Godzilla's attacks. The second form is pretty shitty. It's just squid like and brought to life using poor CGI. This film also features the first fully CG Godzilla for TOHO. Which also looks pretty bad. Orga, the final form is brought to life through suitimation. He looks pretty good. But doesn't show up til the last 10 mins. Their fight is alright. Mainly a bunch of bumping and biting. I've hear it been said, Orga is supposed to resemble the '98 Godzilla, but I don't see it. One change with this production from earlier ones is there's less miniature effects. They elected to use more compositing, which looks fine usually. but others stick out terribly. I would praise the music. It's a great new theme for this Godzilla.

    Rarely will I recommend a US cut over the Japanese, but this is one of those times. It all has to do with sound design. Don't know if it's due to a rushed production, but the original edit is very bland. Times where there's no music where it could have benefited, few sound effects, Godzilla's roar is actually rarely used, then Orga's roar is nothing but a squeal. The voice dub is okay. Some cheesy lines. There are also pacing changes that are actually better.  Like cutting to a character to a location, rather than follow them to it. A small change is the word millennium appears on computer screens hacked by the aliens, Don't even know the significant of it in the original.  So, my feelings are it's  a decent return to form, but not one of the best.