Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
Woe betide those who come between a parent and its child--especially if that parent is Godzilla! Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II is a kaiju (giant monster) disaster movie and a part of the long-running Godzilla series, where--in keeping with the series--the colossal irradiated dinosaur, Godzilla, comes to Japan on a rampage and causes widespread destruction. Fed up with the constant attacks, the United Nations has established a "Godzilla Countermeasures Center" to end the monster's destructive sprees once and for all. Their latest venture is to fight fire with fire by way of a giant robot version of Godzilla--aptly named "Mechagodzilla"--that can defeat the radioactive lizard on his own terms.
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Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II was--like other entries in a series that has held strong for over half of a century--intended to be the last Godzilla film, in memory of the iconic Godzilla director, Ishiro Honda. The film was a part of the "Heisei" series of Godzilla movies, which were fundamentally a "reboot" of the Godzilla stories. The reason this film is called "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II" is because, while not a direct sequel to the Showa-era series, it pays homage to Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla from 1974, where Mechagodzilla debuted. Despite this unorthodox naming convention, audiences that are not die-hard Godzilla fans can still appreciate Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II for what it is--a special-effects driven disaster flick that is heavy on the lasers and explosions. Godzilla movies have historically had an anti-war subtext; Mechagodzilla represents just another step in an arms race, since the giant Terminator-esque robot is created for the sole purpose of neutralizing the greatest threat looming off the shores of Japan. This theme is revisited often, like when the metallic nemesis is defeated by Godzilla in their first engagement, forcing the UNGCC to beef up its firepower by attaching a powerful aircraft called "Garuda" to Mechagodzilla's back. No amount of weaponry proves sufficient in subduing Godzilla, and it ultimately falls to a psychic named Miki Saegusa (Megumi Odaka)--a reoccurring character in the Heisei series--to open lines of communication with the creature. Miki is able to help rebuild the bond with Godzilla and his estranged, newborn broodling, dubbed "Baby" by Azusa Gojo (Ryoko Sano), a scientist who cares for the infant "Godzillasaurus". Despite the sophisticated machinery brandished against Godzilla--and Rodan, who is convinced that Baby is hers, due to Godzilla's brood parasitism--the message of the film is that the only true path to peace is through mutual understanding.
Provoking Godzilla's furious outrage in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II appears to have been unintentional, despite the military's preparedness for an inevitable confrontation. A research team is investigating the radioactive Adona Island--quizzically without radiation suits--absconds with a giant-sized egg and takes it back to Japan for testing, narrowing evading becoming casualties of a brutal throwdown between Godzilla and Rodan. (Although the researchers could not know that ownership of the egg was the cause of the skirmish, upsetting the volatile ecosystem of the island should be an obvious bad play.) The scientists uncover a psychic link between the unborn creature and Godzilla while attempting to uncover its secrets; when it hatches, the newborn Baby follows Azusa around like she were its mother, and she reciprocates the feeling. She takes care of Baby, even though the infant is essentially a prisoner of the UNGCC, playing with it in its bed of straw, and cradling it when it is scared. It's surprising that returning Baby back into Godzilla's massive arms is the UNGCC's last resort at abating the destruction, long after Godzilla has stomped his way through Kyoto. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II casually explores themes about parenting through Godzilla, Rodan, and even Azusa. Azusa is (obviously) not Baby's real mother, but she is sympathetic to his anxiety at being imprisoned by strangers, and shows kindness and decency in her short time as Baby's guardian. Conversely, Godzilla and Rodan are destructive forces of nature, unconcerned with the welfare of life around them, and Godzilla's brood parasitism is what instigates the fight with Rodan in the first place. Baby hesitates when reunited with Godzilla, because of its parent's capacity for devastation; Baby instead identifies with Azuma's gentility, despite the lack of a biological connection.
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II showcases commonly found tropes from early Nineties Japanese action flicks, and is the kind of movie that would have dominated billboards in Japan. It features a bold and loud title graphic and computer-generated imagery that seems stiff and surreal with age. Themes like the dilemma of escalating violence serve as background for the true spectacle of the series: people in elaborate monster suits beating each other up--or shooting lasers generated through special effects. Like other disaster films, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II has character exploration that fills time and gives the audience someone to identify with or chuckle at in between the explosions and throwdowns. There is a subplot about a pilot and pterodactyl-enthusiast in the UNGCC's military division--called "G-Force"--named Kazuma Aoki (Masahiro Takashima), who is removed as the pilot of the Garuda (for reasons that remain unclear). He is immediately dressed down by his new commanding officer for being lazy, which is evidenced by the ease with which he is thrashed during military martial arts practice. Aoki catches wind of the gigantic egg, and pushes his way into the research lab, annoying Azuma enough to suggest that their romantic tension might develop later. After ingratiating himself with the research team, Aoki finds himself in a prime position to suggest using Garuda--sidelined in the first outing--after Mechagodzilla is defeated, intending to give extra "oomph" to the titanium contender. Subplots like these are the window dressing of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, but they provide contrast from what would otherwise be an overload of disconnected kaiju combat.
Recommended for: Fans of Godzilla movies, obviously, but also fans of a straightforward monster mash-n-bash featuring performers in complicated costumes, stomping on tiny replicas of tanks in-between turns of breathing laser blasts at one another (added in post-production). Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II is a welcome entry into the rebooted series--which began with 1984's The Return of Godzilla and ended with Godzilla vs. Destoroyah in 1995--with its episodic story arc and relatively consistent plot for kaiju cinema.
Provoking Godzilla's furious outrage in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II appears to have been unintentional, despite the military's preparedness for an inevitable confrontation. A research team is investigating the radioactive Adona Island--quizzically without radiation suits--absconds with a giant-sized egg and takes it back to Japan for testing, narrowing evading becoming casualties of a brutal throwdown between Godzilla and Rodan. (Although the researchers could not know that ownership of the egg was the cause of the skirmish, upsetting the volatile ecosystem of the island should be an obvious bad play.) The scientists uncover a psychic link between the unborn creature and Godzilla while attempting to uncover its secrets; when it hatches, the newborn Baby follows Azusa around like she were its mother, and she reciprocates the feeling. She takes care of Baby, even though the infant is essentially a prisoner of the UNGCC, playing with it in its bed of straw, and cradling it when it is scared. It's surprising that returning Baby back into Godzilla's massive arms is the UNGCC's last resort at abating the destruction, long after Godzilla has stomped his way through Kyoto. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II casually explores themes about parenting through Godzilla, Rodan, and even Azusa. Azusa is (obviously) not Baby's real mother, but she is sympathetic to his anxiety at being imprisoned by strangers, and shows kindness and decency in her short time as Baby's guardian. Conversely, Godzilla and Rodan are destructive forces of nature, unconcerned with the welfare of life around them, and Godzilla's brood parasitism is what instigates the fight with Rodan in the first place. Baby hesitates when reunited with Godzilla, because of its parent's capacity for devastation; Baby instead identifies with Azuma's gentility, despite the lack of a biological connection.
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II showcases commonly found tropes from early Nineties Japanese action flicks, and is the kind of movie that would have dominated billboards in Japan. It features a bold and loud title graphic and computer-generated imagery that seems stiff and surreal with age. Themes like the dilemma of escalating violence serve as background for the true spectacle of the series: people in elaborate monster suits beating each other up--or shooting lasers generated through special effects. Like other disaster films, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II has character exploration that fills time and gives the audience someone to identify with or chuckle at in between the explosions and throwdowns. There is a subplot about a pilot and pterodactyl-enthusiast in the UNGCC's military division--called "G-Force"--named Kazuma Aoki (Masahiro Takashima), who is removed as the pilot of the Garuda (for reasons that remain unclear). He is immediately dressed down by his new commanding officer for being lazy, which is evidenced by the ease with which he is thrashed during military martial arts practice. Aoki catches wind of the gigantic egg, and pushes his way into the research lab, annoying Azuma enough to suggest that their romantic tension might develop later. After ingratiating himself with the research team, Aoki finds himself in a prime position to suggest using Garuda--sidelined in the first outing--after Mechagodzilla is defeated, intending to give extra "oomph" to the titanium contender. Subplots like these are the window dressing of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, but they provide contrast from what would otherwise be an overload of disconnected kaiju combat.
Recommended for: Fans of Godzilla movies, obviously, but also fans of a straightforward monster mash-n-bash featuring performers in complicated costumes, stomping on tiny replicas of tanks in-between turns of breathing laser blasts at one another (added in post-production). Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II is a welcome entry into the rebooted series--which began with 1984's The Return of Godzilla and ended with Godzilla vs. Destoroyah in 1995--with its episodic story arc and relatively consistent plot for kaiju cinema.