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SUMMARY

In 1999, a new Godzilla appears, and lays waste to Tokyo.  When the weapons of the Anti-Meglosauris Force fail to stop the creature, Science Minister Igarashi develops a desperate plan.  He assembles the greatest minds in Japan to create Mechagodzilla, a giant cyborg cloned from the remains of the original 1950's Godzilla.  He will then equip it with an arsenal of superior weaponry, and wage war on the Godzilla creature.

Lieutenant Akane Yashiro, who survived the initial attack has been chosen to pilot the machine.  Not everyone in the unit is happy she is there.  2nd Lieutenant Hayama blames her for the death of his brother during that battle.  Full of self doubt, she feels as if she can't be a part of the team unless she proves herself.

When Godzilla attacks again, she and the Mechagodzilla go out to do battle.  In this fight, only one can survive.

DVD VISION TEST

VIDEO: The DVD quality is excellent. It's colors are sharp, and the motion is fluid.  No pixels, wrinkles or edge enhancement noted.

AUDIO: Both 5.1 audio tracks (Japanese and English) will really knock your socks off.  The sound during the action segments hits you from all sides.

EDITS: English titles have replaced the Japanese ones.  No edits to the movie were noted.

EXTRAS: Extras?  What extras?  Godzilla must have squashed them.

WIDESCREEN REVIEW

STORY: Part of the "new" Godzilla that favors character development over Tokyo-Stompin', Wataru Mimura's script is nothing groundbreaking.   There is enough depth in the characters to keep them from being stereotypical, but not much else.

ACTING: The cast does a fine job.  New action superstar Yumiko Shaku once again plays a outwardly cool character plagued by her own personal demons.  She doesn't have much emotional range, but if you want to know who should play Motoko Kusunagi in a live action "Ghost in the Shell", look no further.

"Yomigaeru Kinro" actor Shin Takuma plays the part of Tokumitsu Yuhara as a sweet yet dorky guy who only wants to do the right thing.  A far cry from the cool gangster from "Yomigaeru Kinro", I almost didn't recognize him.

The English dub isn't bad, but it isn't great either.  The actors do a decent enough job, but the voices really didn't fit the character.  Besides, I normally don't like watching Asian cinema with an English dub.

FAN SERVICE: Lots of cameos from actors in the other Godzilla movies, and, like the "Muppet" movies, a rash of popular Japanese actors.  Along with the cameos, there are both visual and verbal references to the first Godzilla movie, as well as Mothra.

CONCLUSION

When the American "Godzilla" movie came out, it seemed to be the death knell for the franchise. Japan had "retired" the monster, and the "new" movie was supposed to be the start of a new series.  The truth of the matter was that even it's A-List cast and A+ special effects, could not keep it from sucking.  The movie deviated too far from the standard formula, the monster didn't look right, and worst of all, they had Puff Daddy do the closing theme!

In Japan, it must have struck a nerve because not too long afterwards, Godzilla 2000 hit the theaters, and the big one was back.  CGI be dammed, a man in a rubber suit is what the audiences wanted.  These films upped the ante with some top of the line special effects.  They also concentrated on the characters, adding some depth to these people who fight giant lizards.

"Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla" is the third in the "Millennium Series", but has no relation to the previous two movies (Godzilla 2000 and Godzilla VS. Megaguirus).  In this case, it takes place almost 50 years since the first Godzilla attack in the 1950's.  While Japan has been cursed with monster attacks, none of them have been Godzilla.  This creature is the "descendent" of the original monster.

The story centers around Lieutenant Akane Yashiro, a brilliant Mazer operator (basically a giant tazer gun) who makes one little mistake, costing the lives of her men.  Actually, it was the idiots in the truck in front of her who panicked, and crashed into her tank.  Like any good Japanese officer, she took one for the team.  Now she has a desk job, and hates her life.

The other "main" character is Professor Tokumitsu Yuhara.  A leader in cybernetic research, he is also an eco-geek, with a very touchy feely view of the world.  He has to deal with his daughter, played to moody effectiveness by Kana Onodera.  He also has the hots for Akane, and makes several un-cool advances that border on sexual harassment.  He's lucky the tough as nails Akane didn't kick his ass.

Part of what makes dad so "foolish" is him trying to please his daughter Sara.  She has very fickle views on the Mechagodzilla project.  At first, she is happy her father is going to help protect Japan.  After a few months, she feels very unhappy at what he is doing, getting mad at him for not allowing the two Godzilla's to be friends.  Her dad is a lot more understanding that I am.  I don't know about you, but the idea of the two Godzilla's skipping across Tokyo doesn't fill me with happy thoughts.

Many reviews have complained that there isn't nearly enough monster stomping in this film.  Well, for me, I think it has the right amount.  I have always felt that there is too much fighting in these movies.  Sure, it's cool at first, but the longer it goes with out a break, the more boring it gets.  Besides, it's not like they had the damn thing ready to go in the first place.  It took them almost 4 years to build Mechagodzilla, and like any new weapon, they forgot one little thing, it may be a cyborg, but it does have Godzilla DNA.

I found the special effects quite well done.  Perhaps not as good as Gamera III, it still looked nice.  I'm also glad they didn't go the 100% CGI route.  Frankly, I'm getting tired of the over reliance on cutting edge technology.  As I mentioned earlier, a man in a big rubber suit is what the audience wants.

The more I watch, the more I'm convinced that Yumiku Shaku should play Motoko Kusanagi in a live action "Ghost in the Shell".  Well known for her tough chick role in "The Princess Blade", her Akane and "The Major" are cut from the same cloth.  Both are tough as nails, dedicated, and look great in skintight combat armor.

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla is a decent movie for the Kaiju crowd.  While it may lack the "rompin stompin" feel of days gone by, there is enough action and drama to keep your attention.

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