Gojira tai Mekagojira (2002)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Masaaki Tezuka

Writer:

Wataru Mimura (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 December 2002 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Kidô, Kyômei, Hyôsai (Startup, Resonance, Smashed Ice)

Plot:

After the appearance of a new "Godzilla", the Japanese government builds a robotic Godzilla to stop the beast.

Plot Keywords:

Godzilla | Monster | Gojira | Giant Monster | Bio Organic Weapon

Cast

Yumiko Shaku	...	Akane Yashiro
Shin Takuma	...	Tokumitsu Yuhara
Kana Onodera	...	Sara Yuhara (Tokumitsu's daughter)
Koh Takasugi	...	JSDF Lieutenant Togashi
Yûsuke Tomoi	...	JSDF 2nd Lieutenant Hayama
Jun'ichi Mizuno	...	JSDF 1st Lieutenant Sekine
Akira Nakao	...	2003 Prime Minister Hayato Igarashi
Kumi Mizuno	...	1999 Prime Minister Machiko Tsuge
Takeo Nakahara	...	JSDF Chief Hitoyanagi
Yoshikazu Kanou	...	Hishinuma
Kôichi Ueda	...	Dobashi
Akira Shirai	...	Shinji Akamatsu
Midori Hagio	...	Kaoru Yamada
Naomasa Musaka	...	Gorou Kanno
Shinji Morisue	...	JSDF 1st Lieutenant Hayama (2nd Lt. Hayama's Brother)

Also Known As:

Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (Hong Kong: English title) (DVD title)
Godzilla X Mechagodzilla (Japan: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for sci-fi action and some language.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Studio 9, Toho Studios, Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Toho Company

Trivia:

Mechagodzilla's nickname is Kiryu. "Kiryu" means "Machine Dragon" or "Mechanized Dragon".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the blackout, all the lights go out, even the cars.

Quotes:

Sara Yuhara: [after learning Godzilla is back] Why couldn't they bring my mother back... instead of a monster?

Movie Connections:

Features Mosura (1961)

Is the 26th Godzilla film TRULY any good? Hell yeah!

This film had everything a Godzilla film needs: a bunch destruction, Godzilla fighting another monster with incredible results, and of course, a little camp! The special effects in this film are unbelievable, they are just getting better and better... basically equal to America! There are so many highlights in this film I can't think of all them; the scene with Mechagodzilla falling under the moonlight was fantastic, and as MG is falling, the energy sockets on its back burst flames, resulting in the greatest flying kaiju scene since Gamera 3! Some of you may be thinking "well the special effects are good, but that is not the most important thing in a film." Well, this film had quite a bit of drama which surprisingly was touching, and it all mixed in a Godzilla film very well... connecting the theme all together!! The music and acting was excellent, as simple as that.. The fight scenes between godzilla and Mechagodzilla were great, often having grappling and punching instead of constant beam battles like in the Hesei series. Godzilla's 26th film is one of the greatest G-films of all, almost beating Godzilla, mothra, and King Ghidorah!! Director Mr. Tezuka is directing a sequel to this film, which features two mothra larvae, one Mothra adult, Godzilla, Mechagodzilla, and the giant turtle Kameba, all in an all-out war! It will be great, and will probably top Shusuke Kaneko's Gamera series as long as Mr. Tezuka uses his creative talent of directing, creative camera angles, and spectacular Specail FX!!