Gojira vs. Kingu Gidorâ (1991)

Director:

Kazuki Omori

Writer:

Kazuki Omori (writer)

Release Date:

14 December 1991 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Time travelers use Godzilla in their scheme to destroy Japan to prevent the country's future economic reign.

Plot Keywords:

Godzilla | Dinosaur | Sequel | Monster | Helicopter

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Kosuke Toyohara	...	Kenichiro Terasawa
Anna Nakagawa	...	Emmy Kano
Megumi Odaka	...	Miki Saegusa
Katsuhiko Sasaki	...	Professor Mazaki
Akiji Kobayashi	...	Yuzo Tsuchiashi
Tokuma Nishioka	...	Takehito Fujio
Yoshio Tsuchiya	...	Businessman Yasuaki Shindo
Kenji Sahara	...	Minister Takayuki Segawa
Kôichi Ueda	...	Ikehata, the mad old soldier
Sô Yamamura	...	Prime Minister
Yasunori Yuge	...	Army Chief
Kiwako Harada	...	Chiaki Moriyuma
Kenpachiro Satsuma	...	Gojira
'Hurricane Ryu' Hariken	...	Kingugidora
Chuck Wilson	...	Chuck Wilson

Also Known As:

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

103 min | USA:100 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG (2006) | Germany:12 | UK:PG | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Kyushu, Japan

Company:

Toho Company

Trivia:

This became one of the most controversial Godzilla movies. Shortly after the film's release in Japan, a cable news channel in America ran a lengthy story about the film's alleged anti-American sentiments. Scenes of US soldiers being killed by the Godzillasaurus were shown on the network, and the plot featuring evil Westerners from the future was debated. Director Kazuki Omori, however, defended his artistic decision on camera, arguing that the film was not in fact meant to be anti-American. Economic tensions between East and West were high at this time, and the negative publicity was very much a sign of the times.

Goofs:

Continuity: The special effects crew failed to rotoscope King Ghidorah's rays when the huge bridge is destroyed. As the shot now plays, the bridge is destroyed by a series of explosions of unknown origin when King Ghidorah simply flies over it.

Quotes:

Kenichiro Terasawa: Hey, Emmy, could you please answer a question for me?
Emmy Kano: What is it?
Kenichiro Terasawa: Tell me now, did my book become a bestseller?
Emmy Kano: Actually, hardly anyone even knew about your book.
Kenichiro Terasawa: [trying to hide his disappointment] I see.

Movie Connections:

Spin off Godzilla: Save the Earth (2004) (VG)

the Godzilla flick of the decade

Every ten years or so, Toho grinds out a great little Godzilla movie. This was their classic for the 1990s.

I usually don't like my Godzilla films to get cluttered up with silly science fiction, but in this movie, the time-travel elements are used very deftly to give us insight into the big G's origins. I also love the appearance of a cybernetic King Ghidorah in the final battle, who looks a heck of a lot cooler than any version of Mechagodzilla.

Some of the more interesting elements include a businessman who owes a debt to Godzilla (yes, really!) and renegades from the future who want to destroy Japan's economy. There's a fair amount of criticism leveled at the Americans, but also some self-criticism too, so in the end I think the cultural conflicts in this film are explored rather fairly.

Special effects are definitely a cut above what you'd expect. Ray beams zing back and forth between the battling titans, leveling all those lovely model buildings in the way. Somehow, the spectacle works; it makes me wish that we'd do more model effects in America, but we seem firmly entrenched in the era of lame CGI.

On the downside, the World War II battle segments are tacky, and some plot elements are glossed over (it seems absurdly easy to change M11 into a good guy!). However, this is still the most fun you'll have with Godzilla; the only superior entries in the series, the original "Gojira" and the mighty "GMK," are more dramatic in tone.