"GODZILLA: FINAL WARS" (2004) ** out of ***** Staring: Masahiro Matsuoka; Rei Kikukawa; Akira Takarada; Kane Kosugi; Kazuki Kitamura and Don Frye as Captain Douglas Gordon Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura
Review by R.L. Strong
The World is in chaos. Over many years, Godzilla's attacks against mankind have left many parts of the world in ruin. This and the attacks from other strange creatures, have led scientists to create a mutant soldier based on a rare element. These new soldiers become the main fighting unit of the Earth Defense Force.
When the mummified carcass of a strange creature is found in China, studies find that this creature caries the same mutation strain as the members of the Earth Defense Force. Shortly thereafter, numerous monsters simultaneously attack all the major cities of the world. Mankind is saved by the intervention of an alien race, the Xiliens who hope to unit the Earth with the rest of the galaxy. Of course, this turns out to be simple a ruse, as the aliens simple want to cultivate mankind like cattle.
It is up to Captain Gordon, and one renegade soldier from the EDF to save mankind, and the only weapon strong enough is.. GODZILLA!
Now, there is no way that anyone is going to say that "Godzilla Final Wars" is a great film. The plot is scattershot, with themes developed and forgotten almost immediately. The editing is so rapid fire that action scenes become a blur of matrix style wire-fu and computerize stunt work, none of it really effective.
The human story is interesting in that at least there is one. The last several Godzilla films have had little if any human story that was even remotely involving (one of the reasons that the series has been fading from popularity in recent years). Fight scenes in the film (between humans) are choppy and loaded with so much camera movement that they simply become dizzying.
But the meat of this story is the Monsters, and there are a lot of them. And if you've never seen a Godzilla film, you'll be hard pressed to recognize any of these creatures let alone understand the jovial homage played here. As these giant beasties tear apart their miniature cityscapes, the effects team has a grand time throwing spectacle out. Now nothing here is even remotely believable. In fact the cheese factor seems to have been amplified this time around, with Godzilla doing some of the silliest pro-wrestling moves since the 1970's series of films. Director Ryuhei Kitamura, most noted for the ultra violent comic book film "VERSES", exhibits little control here. The film runs a scant 125 minutes, and seems overloaded with plot and characters. So much so that details are non-existent. The fearful thought remains that there might be an extended director's cut in the works.
But to be perfectly honest, I must say I enjoyed the film despite all of its shortcomings. The simple goofy charm of 'GFW' is infectious. This is not the best film of the series (that remains 1964's 'Godzilla vs. Mothra'), but in it's own deadhead way, the film remains a hoot for those fond of the previous films and for youngsters of all ages with a love of big rubber monsters.
(c) R.L. Strong 2005. This review may not be copied or duplicated without the author's expressed written permission.
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