By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Shushuke Kaneko
Starring: Chiharu Nîyama | Masahiro Kobayashi | Ryudo Uzaki
Original language title: Gojira, Mosura, Kingu Gidora: Daikaijû soukougeki
Country: japan
Year: 2003
Running time: 105
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279112/combined
Ivy says: “This Godzilla film was exceptional: All of the beasts are back for this one, being that it is ALL OUT MONSTER ATTACK. It’s a very smart Godzilla film but it still contains all of the fun from the Godzilla movies that you remember so well. This is going to be the theatrical release for this film in Boston most likely. Sony has a couple new Godzilla films that they have for release, so keep your eyes out!”
Michael says: “I was thrilled to enjoy the big screen spectacle of GODZILLA, MOTHRA, KING GHIDORAH : GIANT MONSTER ALL-OUT ATTACK! As a childhood (okay, and adult) fan of the giant monster movies of Japan, who used to see every new Godzilla movie released in the theater back in the late 70’s, it was quite exciting to catch this recent Japanese release (from 2001.)
“Fifty years after his first, devastating appearance, Godzilla returns to Japan, and despite the intervening films (which are mostly ignored) he’s one bad-ass monster. The cuddly defender of picked-on children is gone, replaced once more by the vengeance of the thousands of souls killed by the atomic warfare of WWII. Godzilla’s prehistoric form is powered by these souls who have grown angry that Japan has forgotten the horror that it went through over 50 years ago. It’s back to stir thing up.
“Fortunately, we’ve got some ‘heroes’ to handle the situation. Baragon, Mothra, and King Ghidorah, are three ancient guardian beasts, long in hibernation, who awaken to face the threat of Godzilla. But this nasty Godzilla is tough, and after taking care of Baragon with a nasty dose of his atomic breath, he gets down to it against the Mothra, King Ghidorah tag-team.
“Of course, as in all of the giant monster movies, there is the human element as well, in this case, a father-daughter pairing. Admiral Taizô Tachibana was alive for Godzilla’s first rampage, and where he lost his parents. His daughter Yuri Tachibana, a reporter for tabloid station Digital Q, longs to become a serious reporter, and smells success if she can cover the Godzilla situation.
“There are lots of little in-jokes, (a slam against the U.S. Godzilla bomb from a few years ago) and all of the other monster-movie conventions from old… the hordes of fleeing Japanese screaming and crying ‘Godzilla!’ the affectless military shooting missiles at the monsters, and the monsters battling, heedless of the death and destruction they’re causing whether they are ‘good’ or ‘evil.’ This one is a must for any Godzilla fans.” 3 1/2 cats