Canon-Strike XIII: Godzilla

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 21 - Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla
Radiation from a black hole fuses with DNA in space from Godzilla and Mothra resulting in the creation of SpaceGodzilla. With the mech M.O.G.U.E.R.A being brought into the plot as a replacement for MechaGodzilla II, the new G variant damages Earth's mech and Godzilla enters the fray. The next final Heisei film managed to also be a big hit despite the closing window to the impending American Era and so once again Toho figured that maybe they could squeeze in just one more.




A classic Godzilla entry or a wasted trip into...

[QualityChimp]

So, the main thing for me on Godzilla Vs. Spacegodzilla is that, rather than Tokyo, the finale takes place in Fukuoka.

The iconic skyscraper is used by Spacegodzilla to channel energy from space and Godzilla realises until that is destroyed, he'll never win, so down comes the tower.

Now, when I visited Japan, I went to Fukuoka and went up the tower but was astonished that there was no reference to Godzilla Vs. Spacegodzilla anywhere! Some nice views of the city and sea, mind you.
So, as a memento of my trip I picked up this brilliant diorama, that's quite tall at full height!









As for the film, it's alright, but a bit of a mess.
Didn't see this at the time as it never got a Manga VHS release like the previous 2 films.

I love the battle in the crystalized Fukuoka, even though it's a relatively cheap-looking set (IMHO) that's not quite right.

Mini Godzilla is a bit lame and the robots are still funny looking.

However, a evil bast of a Godzilla, from SPACE is a great idea.
He wants Earth and he's gonna take it!

[Dogg Thang]

I really need to do a full catch up on this thread but what I will say about Space Godzilla is that, yes, the movie is a mess but the creature design is incredible and it’s one of my favourite Godzilla designs.

[briareos_kerensky]

Space Godzilla is OK. The movie I mean, Space G itself is a bit boring but the final battles is pretty cool.
I too was disappointed that there was no mention of Godzilla at Fukuoka Tower, although the nearby beach was nice.

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 22 - Godzilla vs Destroyah
On its third attempt the Heisei era finally came to a close in 1995 with this entry that saw the two monsters face off alongside the persistent Godzilla Jr. Godzilla heart has begun to suffer a nuclear meltdown and has become a threat to the Earth. Pushed as the final film in this saga and the end of Godzilla's story, it would also be franchise composer Akira Ifukube's final entry. The film was highly received both by critics and at the box office with some fans driven nuts by the demise of Godzilla and Toho's plans to shelve the franchise to make way for the upcoming American Era entries.




A fitting end to the Heisei Era?

[QualityChimp]

I thought I'd seen this, but I can't remember a thing about it, so I don't think I have!

[Dogg Thang]

Some of the Destroyah monster stuff isn’t fantastic, just due to how they are built. That’s in my opinion anyway. But I love the movie as a whole. The idea of meltdown Godzilla is fantastic and he’s basically a ticking time bomb through the entire movie. He looks amazing and the final showdown is brilliant and the ending surprisingly emotional. Overall, I think it’s a great movie and a wonderful ending to these movies.

[QualityChimp]

Can you even legally get hold of the Heisei and Millennium films?

I swear they're in some kind of legal black hole.

[Dogg Thang]

Can you even legally get hold of the Heisei and Millennium films?

I swear they're in some kind of legal black hole.

There are US blu-rays, most of which are in 2-packs. I have a bunch of them and they are good. I think there are still films missing though.

Edit: weirdly, they are not always in order. But Destroyah is here: https://www.amazon.com/Godzilla-Vs-D...s%2C188&sr=8-2

Just be aware that they are region coded as far as I remember.

[briareos_kerensky]

Destroyah is one of my favourite Godzilla movies. It links cleverly to the first movie, the bad monster has a anice design and set of capabilities, and it's something different from the usual aliens/time travellers. Godzilla is both a menace to the whole planet but still gets a hero's death, and the military gets something done without too many antics or outlandish technologies that only appear in a movie.
A great (temporary) send-off for Godzilla.

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 23 - Godzilla
The dawn of the American Era finally began!... and ended. The first of a planned trilogy of movies, in 1998 Matthew Broderick and Jean Reno led this big budget restart of the franchise which saw the military and experts investigating and then facing off against Godzilla when the creature is discovered just as she arrives in New York to have her offspring. The film was poorly received and though it was a financial success it didn't hit the heights the studio had hoped for and so the sequels were never produced. Eventually the rights lapsed and the creature from this film was brought over to the original films by Toho under the name Zilla.





Just how much did this first US attempt get wrong?

[CMcK]

Ehxibits A thru Z -

[QualityChimp]

I'll be honest, I quite like that Puff Daddy song and anything that gives Zep a bit of exposure is welcome.
Everyone needs a "first time I heard" moment for Zep from School of Rock to Thor to Puff Diddy Daddy.


I've got the album somewhere and I need to dig it out because it's not streaming anywhere and it has some bangers on it.


I particularly liked the Godzilla Remix of Green Day's "Brain Stew" with all the skreeonks.


There's no denying that this film was a marketing juggernaut. It was everywhere!
Remember this teaser trailer that features no footage from the film (and would get sued if the "Yesterday" case goes through, grrr), but is an unsubtle dig at Jurassic Park and how comparatively small their T-rex is?


The film wasn't awful, but it wasn't anything special either.
I think having seen loads of the 70's films with rubber suits and some kind of punch up, I was expecting that, but got a lot of footage of a tail going around a corner and the devastation we didn't see happen.
Nice twist at the end that I didn't see coming, but ultimately it just fell flat after the hype.

[briareos_kerensky]

Why we talking about GINO? I thought this was a Godzilla thread.

[Dogg Thang]

It's a bad Godzilla movie. And maybe it's entertaining on its own merits, I honestly don't know. I was never able to separate it from the name and just watch it as a movie.

It did lead to a fun moment in Final Wars though.