Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1954)
When American reporter Steve Martin investigates a
series of mysterious disasters off the coast of Japan, he comes face to face with
an ancient creature so powerful and so terrifying, it can reduce Tokyo to a
smoldering graveyard. Nuclear
weapons testing resurrected this relic from the Jurassic age, and now it’s
rampaging across Japan. At night,
Godzilla wades through Tokyo leaving death and destruction in his wake,
disappearing into Tokyo Bay, when his rage subsides.
Conventional weapons are useless against him; but renowned scientist Dr.
Serizawa has discovered a weapon that could destroy all life in the
bay including Godzilla. But which
disaster is worse, Godzilla’s fury, or the death of Tokyo Bay?
My thoughts: This is the mother to all Kaiju movies.
And the plot really grabs you, this movie is a must have for all Kaiju
fanatics.
My rating: 
Godzilla
Raids Again (1955)
The Japanese people are once again gripped by fear
after hearing a report from sent in by a pilot for a fishing company which gave
an eyewitness account of a titanic struggle between two monsters on a lonely
island in the distant sea. Godzilla,
a pre-historic monster, has been awakened from its long sleep by the H-bomb
explosion and encounters an Angilas, a species of Angilosaurus, which had
previously terrified the Japanese people. These
two dreaded monsters surface near Osaka and start a deadly duel in which the
Angilas is eventually killed. As
Godzilla begins to disappear into the deep sea, Japanese officials decide they
must destroy this radioactive-ray-breathing monster before it reappears and
again threatens their homeland. A
life and death struggle between the indestructible monster and human ingenuity
and know-how ensues.
My thoughts: A pretty good Godzilla movie the fight scenes are great.
My rating:
King
Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
Finally the two mightiest kaiju of all time get it on
in a great battle. Freed from an
iceberg, Godzilla rages south through Japan… Escaping from a science team in
the South Seas, King Kong thunders north… Meeting in Nikko, the two monsters
go head to head! Godzilla stops
King Kong with his radioactive breath, but is wounded and retreats to Mt. Fuji
to nurse his burns. King Kong is
then revitalized by thunderbolts from a passing rainstorm and heads to Tokyo,
almost razing the city in his search for Godzilla before the military subdues
him with narcotic berries. Realizing
that humanity’s only hope is to let the two indestructible monsters fight one
another, the military takes Kong to Mt. Fuji…where the most spectacular fight
ever begins!
[Note: there is some controversy to the ending of this movie.
The difference between the version released in the U.S. and the version
released in Japan is in the Japanese version you hear Godzilla’s roar and then
the movie ends.]
My
thoughts: We got to see the mother of all fights in this one.
The plot keeps you into this movie and the fights are fantastic.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. the Thing (1964)
Years of nuclear testing have reduced Mothra’s home
on Monster Island to a hideous wasteland. Now,
greedy businessmen have turned Mothra’s egg into a billion-dollar tourist
attraction and she wants it back. Tiny
twin girls from Monster Island plead for the egg’s return, but the businessmen
refuse. It may be the last mistake
they ever make, because Godzilla has risen and he’s trampling Japan! When
conventional weapons fail to stop the 40-story monster, Japans leaders beg
Mothra for help. But will she help
the people who cause her so much suffering?
And if she does, how can she stop the awesome power of Godzilla?
My thoughts: One of the best Godzilla films ever to grace the screen.
A must have for anyone who likes Godzilla.
My rating:
Ghidorah,
the Three Headed Monster (1964)
A giant meteorite crashes at the base of Mt. Fuji.
Meanwhile a princess is missing from a plane, she then reappears and prophesizes
that a terrible monster is coming to destroy earth.
As a group of geologists investigate the meteorite it hatches and Ghidorah
is born. The space monster begins its attack.
Luckily the twin fairies from Infant Island are in town, they prophesize
that Godzilla and Rodan are both coming back.
A Japanese policeman and his sister ask the fairies to call Mothra to
fight the space monster, they agree and call Mothra.
Godzilla and Rodan have encountered each other and are fighting. Once Mothra reaches Japan he begs Godzilla and Rodan to help
fight Ghidorah but they refuse so Mothra tries to fight Ghidorah by himself and
gets wasted very quickly. Good
thing Godzilla and Rodan save his butt. Using team work they esliy defeat Ghidorah.
My thoughts: All of the great Kaiju are in this one Godzilla, Mothra,
Rodan and the introduction of Ghidorah.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. Monster Zero (1965)
When astronauts Fuji and Glen investigate the newly
discovered Planet X, they encounter a race of super-intelligent beings who need
Earth’s help. Ghidorah, the
three-headed monster, is destroying the mysterious planet.
Only Godzilla and Rodan can stop Ghidorah, so the people of Planet X want
to transport Earth’s monsters to their world.
The astronauts agree to the plan but the leaders of Planet X take control
of the creatures and use them as weapons to conquer planet Earth!
As the aliens and their monsters storm the Earth with a campaign of
destruction, military forces struggle to defend the helpless victims while
scientists race to discover the aliens’ weakness.
Will they succeed?
My thoughts: One of the corniest Godzilla movies in the series, but a
pretty good story to keep you interested.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. the Sea Monster (1966)
A group of fishermen find a remote island guarded by
a gigantic and hostile crab. The
island discovered by the fishermen is Letchi, populated by an evil people who
are planning invasion and eventual conquest of the world. They have enslaved the people of the island and many others
to work for there evil cause. Letchi
is guarded by Ebirah, the sea monster, which devours all who try to escape.
The fishermen are captured by the would be conquerors, but one of their
number escapes and is about to be devoured by Ebirah when Godzilla appears.
The enormous Godzilla engages the ferocious sea monster in a battle to
the death, with the fate of the fishermen, the slaves…and even the world
hanging in the balance.
My thoughts: Not bad, interesting story.
My only complaint is that Godzilla looks a lot like cookie monster in
this movie.
My rating:
Son
of Godzilla (1967)
A group of scientists are investigating weather on an island when some
large praying mantises (Kumanga) show up and unearth a gigantic egg.
The egg eventually hatches and out pops Minilla, the son of Godzilla.
The Kumanga are kicking around the newborn when Godzilla shows up and
fry’s two of them but one escapes. Later
on Minilla is wandering around and the last Kumanga attacks him but this time Spiega
(a giant spider) shows up and ties both of them up in a web. After killing the last Kumanga, Spiega heads toward the
helpless Minilla, but Godzilla shows up and engages the spider after a few
minutes Godzilla and Minilla both nail him with their atomic breath and Spiega
is incinerated.
My thoughts: This movie is one the poorer Godzilla movies ever made.
Minilla and Godzilla both look pretty ridiculous and the story is pretty
dumb as well.
My rating:
Destroy
All Monsters (1968)
[Note: set in 1999, also the UN has rounded up all of
earth’s monster on one island.]
Evil aliens are trying to conquer the earth and set all of the monsters
free from the island as a distraction so they can build a subterranean base under
Japan. Once the base is completed
all of the monsters attack Japan simultaneously.
As the military tries to slow them down they discover the transmitters
that the Kilaaks use to control the monsters and destroy them.
Now that the monsters are back to normal they all converge on the alien
base, but the aliens have one more card to play as the call Ghidorah.
The earth monsters quickly dispose of Ghidorah and Godzilla trashes the Kilaak
base. But the aliens then release
the fire dragon, which turns out to be a blazing alien ship it’s shot down by
one of the UN’s space ships.
My thoughts: This movie is great even though it has its corny moments the
story is good and the fact that all of the best monsters are in this one make it
a must have.
My rating:
Godzilla’s
Revenge (1969)
Basically the plot of this movie is set around a
cowardly boy named Ichiro who dreams about Godzilla and Minilla. These dreams
somehow give him the courage to confront the robbers who have captured him.
My thoughts: What the hell is this thing.
This without a doubt the worst Godzilla film ever made.
My rating: 
Godzilla
vs. the Smog Monster (1971)
This movie is very odd; the smog monster (Hedorah) is
basically a living pile of pollution. Godzilla
shows up and kicks his tail in a pretty good fight. However Godzilla does manage
to fly in this one by spewing fire at the ground which lifts him off the ground.
At the end Godzilla pulls some egg like objects from the monsters back.
My thoughts: This movie is decent, but Hedorah is kind of goofy looking.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. Gigan (1972)
Once again aliens are planning to take over the
planet only this time they have a plan to kill Godzilla using a tower that is an
exact likeness of the creature. On
Monster Island Godzilla and Angilas are talking (yes that’s right talking).
Godzilla tells Angilas to go to Japan and investigate something; Angilas
obeys and goes on his way. Once he
reaches Japan the military is ready for him and they are able to force him to
retreat back to Monster Island. Meanwhile
the aliens have summoned Gigan and King Ghidorah to aid in the destruction of
Godzilla. This time Angilas and Godzilla are heading toward Japan, they
confront Ghidorah and Gigan, once they defeat the monsters the tower is
activated and does a number on Godzilla but the big G destroys it.
My thoughts: This movie tends to get a bad review from most anybody and I
can see why, but this being the Godzilla movie I ever saw it holds A special
place in my heart. Anyway the plot
is pretty stupid the SFX are weak and Godzilla is talking.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. Megalon (1973)
An underground race of people, the Seatopians have
plans to (you guessed it) conquer the world.
They steal the robot Jet Jaguar from its creators and use it to guide their
giant cockroach monster Megalon. Luckily
the creator has a remote control that overrides the main computer and they
regain control of the robot and tell it to go get Godzilla from Monster Island.
Meanwhile without anyone to guide him Megalon is going nuts.
Once Jet Jaguar reaches Monster Island he tells Godzilla (with a series
of hand signals) to come to Japan and help, Godzilla agrees and starts on his
way. Jet Jaguar fly’s back to
Japan and increases his size to that of a normal kaiju and proceeds to hammer
Megalon. The Seatopians then call
upon Gigan who shows up and wrecks Jet Jaguar good thing Godzilla shows up to save
his metal ass. With Jet Jaguar
breaking the right arm of Gigan, the monster retreats leaving Megalon to fend
for himself. The two then double
team Megalon (this is where Godzilla does his little drop kick thing)
causing Megalon to retreat as well.
My thought: This is a pretty weak Godzilla movie when compared to others,
but by itself it’s not that bad. Even
though the SFX aren’t that great or the story that interesting.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. the Cosmic Monster (1974)
This is the first movie where we get to see the most
powerful of all Godzilla’s enemies, Mechagodzilla. Built by aliens to once again conquer the planet,
Mechagodzilla first appears with a replica Godzilla skin on him but the real
Godzilla fries it. Mechagodzilla
however defeats Godzilla but has retained quite a bit of damage and is called
back to base. On some island
Godzilla gets hit by lightning and is recharged, elsewhere a group of people are
attempting to resurrect an ancient monster named King Ceasar to battle
Mechagodzilla, they succeed just as Mechagodzilla is right on top of them, the
two monsters go at it. At first
it’s a pretty good match up but Mechagodzilla uses his superior firepower to
overwhelm the ancient King Ceasar. Once
again Godzilla shows up and the two monsters defeat Mechagodzilla (Godzilla
pulled of its head).
My thoughts: Well this one of the better Godzilla films in the original
series. Good SFX and a pretty
interesting story keep you into this movie.
My rating:
Terror
of Mechagodzilla (1975)
One more time, the aliens have rebuilt Mechagodzilla
to again try to conquer the Earth. This
time however they have help, from a monster by the name of Titanosaurus, a giant
dinosaur that is controlled by a scientist.
Titanosaurus is sent to attack Japan first but Godzilla fends him off
rather quickly. The next attack is
Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus, Godzilla shows up and tries to fight both
monsters but he can’t stop both monsters at once.
Good thing Interpol has figured out that Titanosaurus is vulnerable to
sonic blasts, they’ve rigged a helicopter with a sonic gun and blast the giant
dinosaur with it. This gives
Godzilla an opening and he takes out both monsters.
My thoughts: This is definitely one of the best movies in the entire
Showa Godzilla series.
My rating:
Godzilla
1985 (1985)
[Note: This movie is intended to be a direct sequel
to Godzilla: King of the Monsters. All
the movies between KOTM and this one will be treated as if they didn’t exist.]
It’s been 30 years since the original attack by Godzilla and when a
large ship is discovered and the crew is all in a state of decay.
The Japanese government confirms that it is Godzilla, the big G surfaces
and attacks a power plant but is distracted by a flock of birds flying overhead
and follows them out to sea. The
Japanese military devises a plan to simulate the sound of these birds and lure
Godzilla into a volcano. First, they
launch the Super-X to attempt to destroy Godzilla and it works they do kill him. However fallout from a stratosphere detonation of a Russian
nuclear missile revives Godzilla who proceeds to drop a building on the Super-X.
Then the military uses the plan to lead Godzilla into the mouth of the
volcano, the plan works and Godzilla is trapped inside the volcano.
My thoughts: This is definitely the way to re-launch the big G back into
the mainstream. The story is great and the new of Godzilla rocks.
And the SFX are superb.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. Biollante (1989)
A scientist has genetically engineered a form of
super plant from godzilla, plant, and human cells, thus creating Biollante, who
has rooted herself in a nearby lake. Meanwhile
a company named Bio-Major is blackmailing the Japanese government for the
Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria, and if this material is not delivered they will
free Godzilla from the volcano. But
an agent from the country of Saradia steels the material and Godzilla is set
free. The military sends out its
new weapon the Super-X2 equipped with the fire mirror, a weapon able to absorb
and redirect Godzilla’s radioactive fire.
It attacks Godzilla with the fire mirror, however Godzilla’s heat ray
eventually melts the fire-mirror causing the Super-X2 to retreat, leaving
Godzilla unopposed heading for Japan. Heading
strait for Biollante, Godzilla quickly destroys Biollante and continues to
attack Japan. Once again they
bring out the Super-X2 minus its fire mirror and like the first one Godzilla
destroys it. The Japanese military
however has some of that Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria and they infect Godzilla
with it then they expose him to extreme heat causing the bacteria to make him a
very sick kaiju. Then Biollante
shows up again, now in her true form and begins to battle with Godzilla.
Even though Godzilla is sick he still manages to kill the creature and
return to the sea.
My thoughts: This is another excellent example of what kaiju movies are
all about. The plot is good and the SFX are again sweet.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. King Ghidora (1991)
Time travelers from the future are sent to prevent
the creation of Godzilla. They
travel back in time to an island in the south pacific during WWII.
Where a garrison of Japanese troops is being swarmed by the U.S. Army, when
a giant dinosaur shows up and fends off the U.S. troops but is fatally injured
by the battleships at sea. Once the
Japanese troops leave, the team from the future begins to teleport the dinosaur
into the middle of the ocean. But
they leave behind three creatures called Dorats.
Back in modern times the Dorats have been mutated into one giant creature
(as the dinosaur was supposed to be); they have created the new King Ghidorah, who is
being controlled by the time travelers. The
Japanese government devises a plan to recreate Godzilla using a secret Nuclear
Submarine, but once the submarine has reached the area where the dinosaur is
supposed to be, due to the high level of radiation there it has already changed
into Godzilla. And he immediately
destroys the sub and heads for Japan. He
engages the new Ghidorah and severs its middle head killing it, then Godzilla
attacks Japan. However one of the
time travelers goes back to her time and resurrects King Ghidorah into Mecha-King
Ghidorah, who quickly engages Godzilla and captures him and drags him back out to
sea.
My thoughts: This movie definitely has its corny moments, but the entire
movie is pretty sweet.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. Mothra (1992)
A giant meteorite has crashed into the Pacific Ocean
awakening Godzilla, a new creature Battra, and once again a giant egg is
unearthed. And a Japanese philanthropist wants it, so they load onto a
barge to take it back to Japan. Only
this time they have the support of the fairies.
Meanwhile Battra is beginning his assault on the Japanese mainland but
leaves for no apparent reason. Back
at the barge the egg is hatching and Godzilla is surfacing right along side the
boat. Luckily Mothra escapes before
Godzilla bakes the egg. Godzilla
and Mothra are battling when Battra shows up and attacks Mothra but hits
Godzilla in the process. Big
mistake, Godzilla and Battra battle underwater and are swallowed up by a crack in
the ocean floor. The philanthropist
however kidnaps the fairies causing Mothra to search for them causing some major
damage in his search. Godzilla
resurfaces through a volcanic eruption and once again attacks Japan. Also Battra returns and changes into his adult form, Mothra
has also changed into her adult form. Battra
and Mothra engage each other in a battle over Japan and when Godzilla shows up
he stomps both of them. But Mothra
brainwashes Battra into helping him and the two gang up on Godzilla and drag him
back into the ocean, but not before he kills Battra on the trip out to sea.
My thoughts: This is definitely towards the top of
the charts for me. Good plot, sweet
SFX, and the monsters are really cool.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. Mechagodzilla (1993)
The UN has constructed a giant mechanized Godzilla to
kill the original Godzilla. A team of scientist
discovers a nest with a giant egg in it and the remains of a previously hatched
egg. They secure the egg inside
of their helicopter when Rodan shows up and tries to retrieve the egg.
But Godzilla shows up and takes out the new Rodan knocking it cold, as the
helicopter escapes with the egg. Godzilla
follows the helicopter to Japan where he meets up with his mechanical double.
Mechagodzilla appears to have the advantage using it’s massive
firepower to its advantage, Godzilla catches a break when the new Mechagodzilla
overheats and Godzilla just knocks it over and continues on to find the egg.
Meanwhile in the lab where the egg is being housed it is beginning
to hatch, and out steps the newborn Godzilla.
As Godzilla is rampaging through Japan Mechagodzilla engages it one more
time this time with the aid of Garuda, a ship that can attach to the back of
Mechagodzilla adding to its firepower. Once the two merge they form Super-Mechagodzilla who proceeds
to open up a kaiju-sized can of whoop-ass on Godzilla with the new G-crusher
attack, which destroys Godzilla’s spinal column. However Baby Godzilla calls Rodan who takes off toward Japan
to help the Baby Godzilla who is being transported toward the battle zone.
Rodan, now Fire-Rodan arrives and is attacked by Super-Mechagodzilla he
appears to be holding his own but Super-Mechagodzilla floors him with the
plasma grenade at close range. Fire-Rodan now dying falls onto the fatally wounded Godzilla;
the new Rodan vaporizes and restores Godzilla’s spinal column.
Godzilla now fully healed unleashes one hell of a blast of radioactive
breath, destroying the UN’s new toy.
My thoughts: Wow, what a movie. The
SFX are great the story is awesome and the new Mechagodzilla is kick ass.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. Spacegodzilla (1994)
Once again the UN has created another giant robot
this time it’s the M.O.G.E.R.A. a machine that can split into two separate
vehicles (i.e. Mechagodzilla and Garuda). Two
soldiers are sent to an island to meet up with another to establish project T, a
plan to control Godzilla. The UN
gets to try out their new robot against the incoming Spacegodzilla in a battle
in an asteroid field. Spacegodzilla
quickly defeats the MOGERA and continues on to earth.
Back on the island Spacegodzilla lands and attacks the extremely cute
Little Godzilla. Good thing dad
shows up and fends off Spacegodzilla who heads toward Japan.
Godzilla follows. Spacegodzilla lands in Japan and the MOGERA is dispatched to
stop him, Godzilla lands on the opposite side of Japan and is heading toward
Spacegodzilla. The captain of the
MOGERA then shifts course towards Godzilla, but is knocked out by the two other
members of the crew and they correct the course back to Spacegodzilla.
When they reach Spacegodzilla they commence their attack, MOGERA appears
to be doing quite well until Spacegodzilla starts blasting away.
Godzilla shows up and begins to get crystals thrown at him by
Spacegodzilla. The MOGERA fires its
Spiral Grenade Missiles blowing away the crystals on Spacegodzilla’s
shoulders, and Godzilla does the rest.
My thoughts: Man these last five movies are good, the SFX are great.
Plus the story is pretty good.
My rating:
Godzilla
vs. Destoroyah (1995)
Godzilla surfaces in Hong Kong glowing orange and extremely pissed off.
The U.N.G.C.C. theorizes that Godzilla has absorbed too much radiation
over the past few years and will explode in a few days.
As Godzilla heads toward a power plant to refuel, the U.N.G.C.C. launches
a plan to freeze Godzilla with the Super-XIII.
The plan works and Godzilla is frozen solid.
When he awakens six hours later he heads back out to sea instead of going
for the reactor, as it turns out he’s chasing Little Godzilla.
Back in Tokyo scientists who are working on something called micro-oxygen
(which is very similar to the oxygen destroyer) start encountering strange
creatures which start off small but are getting bigger.
The police call in Special Forces who seem to get things under a control.
The scientists have been trying to duplicate Dr. Serizawa’s oxygen
destroyer. The creatures are back
and they have grown much larger and the military is called to handle the
situation, of course they’re unsuccessful as the creatures merge into one.
The good news is that the creatures cannot tolerate extremely cold
temperatures and can be killed that way. Someone
figures out that micro-oxygen doesn’t have the power that the creature does,
but the oxygen destroyer does thus they name the creature Destroyer.
They figure that if the oxygen destroyer killed the first Godzilla why
not let the Destroyer kill this one. Now
how are they going to get Godzilla to fight Destroyer, wait I know why not let
Godzilla Junior lure him in. So
they find Godzilla Junior and get him to change his course toward Japan thus
Godzilla turns toward Japan as well. Junior
arrives first and tries to battle Destroyer but is quickly subdued and fatally
injured. Godzilla shows up and Destroyer mutates into his final form.
Godzilla seems to be winning but Destroyer keeps changing form.
The U.N.G.C.C. sends in the Super-XIII to keep Godzilla’s temperature
under control. After Godzilla has
pounded on Destroyer, the creature tries to escape but is shot down by the
Super-XIII. Now it’s time for
Godzilla to meltdown. Despite the
efforts by the Super-XIII Godzilla still melts down.
The radiation however quickly rises but then quickly falls and through
the smoke we see Godzilla Junior now fully grown.
Godzilla lives!
My thoughts: Holly spit this movie is killer.
The SFX totally kicked ass and the whole plot keeps you interested.
My rating:
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