Takeo Nakahara | Through the Shattered Lens

Godzilla gets a brand new backstory in 2002’s Godzilla against Mechagodzilla!

That’s not a surprise. At the start of the 21st century, when Toho was still trying to figure out how their biggest star would function in a new world, nearly every Godzilla film was a reboot that pretty much ignored all of the films that came before it, with the exception of the original Gojira. Godzilla against Mechagodzilla opens with Japan being attacked by Godzilla but it’s not the same Godzilla from the original film. That Godzilla actually did die as a result of the Oxygen destroyer. However, its relatives are still out there and occasionally, one will pop up and attack Japan. Japan has gotten a reputation for being cursed.

However, a discovery has been made that could change everything. The skeleton of the original Godzilla has been discovered and it has been used to create a cyborg Godzilla. The cyborg Godzilla is called Kiryu but, in appearance, it’s pretty much just Mechagodzilla all over again. Kiryu is able to defeat the new Godzilla but the battle triggers memories of its former life and soon, it’s going on a rampage of its own. Eventually, being a cyborg, it runs out of power but it’s obvious that Kiryu will need the guiding hand of a human. How about Lt. Akane Yushiro (Yukimo Shaku), who is undeniably talented but whose previous battle against the latest version of Godzilla has left her haunted by guilt and also caused others to doubt her abilities? Can she pilot Kiryu and save Japan from future Godzilla attacks?

Fortunately, Godzilla against Mechagodzilla know what its mission is. It understands that the majority of its audience is watching because they want to see Godzilla use his radioactive breath to destroy things and they want to see Mechagodzilla shoot lasers beams out of his eyes. The movie delivers both of those things, often in spectacular fashion. The special effects are certainly better than the special effects from Godzilla’s earlier Toho films but they still look primitive enough to retain the franchise’s B-movie charm. The film’s battle scenes are truly impressive and live up to the Godzilla name. As for the “human” story, Yumiko Shaku gives a strong performance and is likable as Akane and you actually do want her to get her chance to prove herself. While this film isn’t quite as enjoyably weird as some of the other entries, it’s still an above-average Godzilla film and a worthy chapter in the series. In fact, Godzilla against Mechagodzilla worked so well that the next entry in the series was not a reboot but a direct sequel! We’ll check that out next week.

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Released in 1999, Godzilla 2000 introduces viewers to The Godzilla Protect Network, a group of people who keep track of Godzilla landfalls and do their best to try to predict where he’ll show up next. They’re a bit like the storm watchers from Twisters. The way some people keep an eye on the weather, they keep an eye on everyone’s favorite radioactive lizard.

And it doesn’t take long for Godzilla to show up! Released a year after Roland Emmerich’s version of Godzilla, Toho used Godzilla 2000 to reclaim the character for themselves and for Japan. As such, the film waste no time in getting the original Godzilla on screen and allowing him to go on one of his trademark rampages. Every time that Godzilla breathes radioactive fire and lets loose its trademark shrill cry, it’s as if the film is saying, “Hey, America, this Godzilla!”

As for the plot, it’s not really that important. A group of scientists discover that an alien spaceship has been buried deep in the ocean for millions of years. The UFO is reawakened by Godzilla and it turns out that the spirits of the aliens basically want to absorb Godzilla’s regenerative powers so that they can come back to life and conquer the world. Godzilla doesn’t want to give away his regenerative powers so, naturally, he battles both the UFO and the eventual monsters that the UFO sends out to do its bidding. Once again, Godzilla is defending humanity, albeit unintentionally. For the most part, one gets the feeling that Godzilla just wants to be left alone.

Unfortunately, the military wants to destroy Godzilla and they keep getting in his way while he’s tying to battle the aliens. Seriously, Godzilla is like a wasp. He won’t destroy you as long as you don’t bother him. I mean, it’s true that Godzilla had a really bad temper back in the 50s but, for the most part, he just now wants to enjoy his retirement and step on a few cities. But the humans and the aliens and all the other monsters just won’t leave him alone!

Godzilla 2000 is an entertaining film. Probably because it was made as a direct rebuke to Emmerich’s film, Godzilla 2000 feels like one of the old school Godzilla films, with the emphasis on Godzilla fighting other monsters while people stand on rooftops and point. It has a fun retro feel to it. Basically, with this film, Toho reminded viewers what Godzilla was supposed to be all about.

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