Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (ゴジラ×メカゴジラ, Gojira x Mekagojira, released in Japan as Godzilla × Mechagodzilla)[3] is a 2002 Japanese kaiju film directed by Masaaki Tezuka, written by Wataru Mimura, and produced by Shogo Tomiyama. Produced and distributed by Toho Studios, it is the 27th film in the Godzilla franchise and the fourth film in the franchise's Millennium period, and is also the 26th Godzilla film produced by Toho. The film features the fictional giant monster character Godzilla, along with an updated version of the mecha character Mechagodzilla, who is referred to in the film as Kiryu. The film stars Yumiko Shaku, Shin Takuma, Kou Takasugi, Yuusuke Tomoi, Kumi Mizuno, and Akira Nakao, with Tsutomu Kitagawa as Godzilla and Hirofumi Ishigaki as Kiryu.

This article is about the 2002 film. For the 1974 film, see Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. For the 1993 film, see Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
Japanese theatrical release poster
Directed byMasaaki Tezuka[1]
Produced byShogo Tomiyama
Written byWataru Mimura[1]
StarringYumiko Shaku
Shin Takuma
Kou Takasugi
Yuusuke Tomoi
Kumi Mizuno
Akira Nakao
Music byMichiru Ōshima[1]
CinematographyMasahiro Kishimoto[1]
Edited by
  • Shinichi Fushima
  • Shinichi Natori[1]
Production
company
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • December 14, 2002 (2002-12-14) (Japan)
Running time
88 minutes[1]
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Box office¥1.9 billion[2]

Like the previous films in the franchise's Millennium era, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla is a reboot that ignores the events of every installment in the Godzilla film series aside from the original 1954 Godzilla, although Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla also acknowledges the events of both Mothra and The War of the Gargantuas. The film was followed by a direct sequel, Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., the following year.

Plot

In 1999, 45 years after Godzilla's first attack in 1954, Lieutenant Akane Yashiro, a maser-cannon technician, is unable to kill a new member of Godzilla's species during her first fight. She accidentally knocks a vehicle down the mountain where it and its occupants are crushed by Godzilla and she is transferred to a desk job. During the battle, it was discovered that Godzilla is immune to maser fire, rendering all of the Japanese military useless against it. Scientists, including single father Tokumitsu Yuhara, are gathered to build a bio-mechanical robot from the original Godzilla's skeleton. The cyborg Mechagodzilla, named Kiryu, is finished and inducted into the Japan Self-Defense Forces along with its human pilots as the Kiryu Squadron. Akane becomes the main pilot for Kiryu. However, memories of Akane's actions during the original fight still linger, and one of her squadron mates, Second Lieutenant Susumu Hayama holds her responsible for the death of his brother (who was in the car she knocked down the mountain).

Four years later, Mechagodzilla is shown to the world, and the complete system that controls the unit is explained. Controlled remotely from a control craft that resembles a very large jet fighter with V/STOL capabilities, it can be remotely recharged from the ground using microwaves that are relayed through a power system on one of the command aircraft, and then beamed back down to Kiryu. For the end of the presentation, its greatest and most powerful weapon, the freezing Absolute Zero Cannon, is shown. At the same time, Godzilla shows up once again, and Kiryu is launched into battle. In the midst of the first battle, Kiryu's soul is awoken by Godzilla's roar and brings with it the memories of the original Godzilla's death. As if it were the original Godzilla, Kiryu proceeds to destroy the city around it after Godzilla retreats to the ocean floor. Horrified, the Kiryu Squadron can only watch in alarm as the rampaging cyborg destroys more city property than Godzilla did. After one hour, Kiryu runs out of energy and is brought back to headquarters for further work.

All the while, Akane deals with Hayama resenting her and trying to get her to leave, along with Tokumitsu’s attempts to get to know her despite her always seeking solitude. Later, Godzilla attacks again. After repairs are made, Kiryu is released from the air and hits Godzilla with immense speed. Godzilla and Mechagodzilla face off in a head-to-head battle where each combatant sizes up its opposite and exchange powerful blows that devastate the cityscape around them. Kiryu gains the upper hand and beats down Godzilla. Kiryu proceeds to launch the Absolute Zero Cannon, but Godzilla fires its atomic breath. During the course of the impact, Kiryu is disabled, and the remote piloting system completely taken off-line. In an effort to continue the fight, Akane orders Hayama to land his command craft so that she can make her way to Mechagodzilla and take control from its internal backup cockpit. As she leaves, Hayama wishes her good luck signifying he forgives her, to which she gives a thumbs up. Now under direct human control, Kiryu rises from the ground one more time and closes in on Godzilla for a final blow, hoping to use the Absolute Zero Cannon at point-blank range. The two titans collide, and Akane uses Kiryu's thrusters to propel it and Godzilla out to sea before firing, freezing a huge portion of the ocean around them. After the blast clears, Godzilla is shown to be alive but with a huge gash in its chest, walking back into the ocean. Kiryu is heavily damaged, missing its right arm, and the Absolute Zero Cannon is devastated. With Squadron Kiryu successful in repelling the monster, Kiryu is taken back to base for repairs. In a post-credits scene, Akane agrees to have dinner with Tokumitsu and his daughter Sara and gives Kiryu one last salute.

Cast

Production
  • Mechagodzilla is mostly referred to by the name Kiryu (derived from Kikai-ryu, the Japanese word for "machine dragon") throughout the film. This was done to differentiate the character from previous versions. It was, however, referred to as "Mecha-G" and "Mechagodzilla" in the English dubbing of the next film, Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S..
  • Japanese baseball star Hideki Matsui has a cameo as himself in the film, due to his nickname "Godzilla".
  • As has been done since the early 1970s, Toho had the international version of Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla dubbed in Hong Kong. This dubbed version was released on DVD by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in 2004.

Soundtrack

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla the first film of the series with a soundtrack recorded outside of Japan. Director Masaaki Tezuka once again turned to composer Michiru Oshima following their successful collaboration on Godzilla X Megagurius, with the score itself being recorded by Moscow International Symphonic Orchestra, under conductor Konstantin D. Krimets.[4] Tezuka and Oshima would both return for the film's sequel, Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.

Release

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla was released in Japan on 14 December 2002.[1]

Budgeted at roughly $8.5 million, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla opened in Japan on December 13, 2002, and earned $2,253,231 in its opening weekend. It went on to gross approximately $16 million in Japan, making it the second biggest hit of the Millennium Godzilla films at the box office. It sold approximately 1.7 million admissions.

Critical reaction

Reviews of Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla have been positive. Mike Pinsky of DVD Talk gave the film three stars out of five, saying: "While I did have some minor complaints, [this is] a fine entry in the series." Pinsky said "the plot is more interesting than most giant monster movies," and "the battle scenes, which are the main reason anyone watches these films to begin with, were great."[5] Giving the film a "B+" score, Mark Zimmer of Digitally Obsessed said that it's "a good deal of fun and one of the better entries in the series."[6] Digital Monster Island gave the film a "B" score, calling it "a fun and exciting film that should please most kaiju fans."[7]

Home media

The film was released by Sony Pictures/Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment on DVD on March 23, 2004. It was released under the American title, Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla - International Version, which has new English opening and closing credits but is otherwise the same as the original Japanese version.[8]

Its second release was on Blu-ray by Sony as part of the Toho Godzilla Collection. [9] and was released on September 9, 2014 as part of a 2-disc double feature with Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack.

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References

Footnotes
  1. Galbraith IV 2008, p. 425.
  2. 歴代ゴジラ映画作品一覧
  3. DeSentis, John. "GODZILLA SOUNDTRACK PERFECT COLLECTION BOX 6". Scifi Japan. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  4. "GODZILLA X MECHA-GODZILLA". www.godzillamonstermusic.com. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  5. Review - Mike Pinsky. DVD Talk April 2nd, 2004
  6. Review- Mark Zimmer. Digitally Obsessed March 21, 2004
  7. Review. Digital Monster Island
  8. "Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla - Comparison".dvdcompare.net
  9. "Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla - Review". blu-ray.com

Sources


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