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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :- Admirable late-night programming - fantastic fun entertainment!, 28 June 2004 Author: Ben_Cheshire from Oz
Hitchcock would have admired the no-nonsense progression of this movie. There's no stuffing around with unnecessary sub-plots or boring character histories basically what we want to hear about is Godzilla.This is from the modern series of Godzilla redoes. The original was 1955, and millions of camp sequels followed in the 60's - and now these latest movies in the 90's. So this looks like a modern movie - with modern technology available, yet they've retained the puppet-like Godzilla. Many have complained at how fake it looks - but considering all the other self-reference, they've definitely done it one purpose. Why do Godzilla computer animated when the vintage puppet Godzilla is so fun!There's nothing better than a camp movie that knows its camp - this is very fun stuff. For example, the obvious parody of American sci-fi flicks: we see two US soldiers discussing casually how they'll take over the island they've just discovered "yes, the stars and stripes will fly here too." And they see our heroes flying in on their time machine/ufo and think its a space ship (which it is). One says to the other: "Let's just keep this secret. You can tell your son about it, when he's born, Major Spielberg." The slickness of the entertainment actually is the best homage to Spielberg here. These are the kinds of movies Spielberg makes, and the kind of movies we all used to love when we were kids. Good on them, I say.There is plenty of sci-fi action: UFOs, time machines and futuristic creatures. There are also references to American war movies in the war-like sequences with US troops fighting Godzilla on the Bikini Atoll (or whatever atoll it is - one famous for Nuclear testing). There's adventure, also: the troupe going back in a time machine to 1954 to try and wipe Godzilla from existence is a very exciting adventure premise.7/10. Thoroughly recommended entertainment.
5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :- the Godzilla flick of the decade, 23 January 2004 Author: dr_foreman
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.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :- decent entertainment, 26 May 2006 Author: TheUnknown837-1 from United States
This was the second Godzilla movie I ever saw and it was the first of them that really got me interested in Godzilla. I just loved the climatic battles between Godzilla and King Ghidorah and the terrific music score by Akira Ifukube.It also has a very decent and well-crafted plot. It was directed by the same man who directed the classic "Godzilla vs. Biollante" and I often consider him to be one of the best low-budget Japanese directors ever. There was plenty of action, the human part of the story was actually very interesting. At a few points, the plot made some turns that were hard to understand. I had to watch a few dialogue scenes a couple of times to get the idea. Of course, it is possible that the American distributors just cut out the important parts of the storyline as they usually do with Godzilla films.Special effects-wise, for its time, it's impressive. Not as good as the Oscar-winning effects in Terminator 2 (also made in 1991), but acceptable. The radioactive heat rays, laser beams, and King Ghidorah's gravity lightning bolts were somewhat realistic. And I just loved the effects used in Godzilla's raid on the city of Sapporo, where he fought against a squadron of laser-tanks. That's my favorite part of the movie.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :- The Best Ever ( with the exception of the original ), 22 December 2004 Author: bruce-marshall2 from United Kingdom
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Godzilla films were cheap and tacky in the sixty's ( if you have seen one you will know what I mean ). But things were looking up because after a short break Godzilla returned in 1984 to his old city bashing self. I myself have not seen the "Return of Godzilla", but I have seen the film Godzilla vs King Ghidorah. To tell you the truth I love the film!!!!!!!! It is by far my favourite along with the "Original" and "Godzilla vs Destoroyah". Godzilla was redesigned and the men in suits were replaced with.... MORE MEN IN SUITS!!! But at least they looked like real monsters and not an over wait deformed puppy. My favourite monster was also redesigned, King Ghidorah looks amazing compared with his original form. The plot, men (and a woman) from the future come and stop Godzilla being born and in stead stick three little animals in its place, they then turn into King Ghidorah. Who go's on a complete rampage until Godzilla turns up. There is a huge fight in which King Ghidorah dies and the Future men are killed apart from one. She go's back to her time creates Mecha-Ghidorah. To save Japan from Godzilla who in the mean time continued King Ghidorah rampage. I give this film 10/10
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :- a true clash of the titans, 8 April 2004 Author: notyep051798 from Chicago, Illinois
This Godzilla film, being the third in the second series, offers a lot of things for the fan . This is the plot: People from the future come to present day Japan to warn the citizens about the threat that is Godzilla and that he will totally destroy Japan and offer their assistance to get rid of it. The futurians deves a plan to go back to the past to the event in which Godzilla was created by moving him from the site where the atomic bomb was used to create him to a neutral location. However, the futurians have an ulterior motive, they create King Ghidorah and use him to destroy Japan, for economical reasons. Unfortunately thier plan to get rid of Godzilla backfires greatly. Not only did they not get rid of Godzilla, but he comes back bigger and more powerful than he was before, and that spells major trouble for both the futurians and Japan.
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :- Now that's more like it., 12 October 2003 Author: Handarazuur from Melbourne, Australia
Beware. Spoilers lie within.Every so often, from the bowels of Japan's film industry comes a really really good movie. More not than often, it is a kaiju movie. For the uninitiated, Kaiju is the Japanese word for "Monster". When I saw this film, I could think only one thing. Japan's film industry had released a really really good movie.A group of men and women from the 22nd century, in a UFO that boggles the mind. Their leader is our token Caucasian man, and his name is Wilson. Wilson and Co. explain that, in the 21st century, Godzilla causes Japan to be irradiated, because his bout with New York left him really depressed. They propose that a three man and one android team be sent back to 1944, before Godzilla became irradiated and turned into our second favourite Tokyo-smushing monster (Gamera being a personal numero uno kaiju of mine). There, they will transport him under an ice shelf, therefore making it that Godzilla never existed. These "Futurians" apparently have no concept of the Temporal Prime Directive, or, in layman's terms, Why Messing Around With The Past Will Really Mess Up The Present. Oh, well, what can you do?They do get to 1944, and, after watching the Americans take a beating from our Godzillasaurus (this consequently led to the cheesiest line in cinema history, "Take that, you dinosaur!"), the Futurians successfully beam Godzillasaurus to the Bering Sea, the mission is over, and everyone goes home to sing karaoke and eat ramen. Ha, I had you fooled, didn't I? You see, the Futurians have a little something called an Ulterior Motive. Just before they leave for the present, the woman Futurian, Emmy (or is it Bafta?) releases into the wilderness three small genetically engineered pets, which she calls "Dorats". They return to the present only to find that Japan is now under attack from our favourite three headed monster. No, I'm not talking about Cerberus, or even Fluffy. I'm talking about King Ghidorah.That's right, the big KG is back, and he's shooting down planes, buildings and basically whatever the heck he wants to. You see, in the 22nd Century, Japan dominates the world economy, and these Futurians are actually extremists who want to level the playing field by destroying Japan. They've permanently borrowed their time-travelling UFO, and plan to reorganise the world, therefore violating the Temporal Prime Directive and causing their cause to no longer exist, meaning that they all disappear in a quantum puff of smoke.All right, I was fooling you again. History doesn't act properly, and King Ghidorah continues knocking over city blocks. All is not lost, however. A Russian sub hits something in the Bering Sea. Three guesses as to what it is they hit. Anyway, before anyone knows what's going on, Godzilla has mutated anyway, and is off to pay Japan a visit, if you know what I mean.Viewers can interpret this as either a good film or a bad film, depending on what they like in a film, and depending on how picky they are. Nothing's perfect (if I ever see an android really run like that, I swear...), but it's still one of the best modern slices of Kaiju to date. I recommend it for anyone who is a big fan of Kaiju, or someone who is looking for something good for a lonely Saturday. It's also a great film to watch if you're in desperate need of a laugh.Handarazuur gave this film five stars. Not four; five!
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :- Giant monsters + Time Traveling = Awesome goodness, 5 November 2004 Author: AwesomeWolf from Australia
Version: Japanese, with English subtitles. Possible Spoilers.Although it may not sound like it, this is one of Godzilla's best movies. Some dudes from the future visit Japan in 1991, and inform the Japanese government that Japan in the future has been nearly destroyed by Godzilla, and they have come back to help. Why 1991? Well, at that time, Kenichiro Terasawa is writing his book about the origins of Godzilla. So, the future dudes take a team from 1991 back in time to see Godzilla before he was famous, living on an island in the Pacific. Godzilla is wounded by US Navy ships, and transported to the icy Bering Sea. Of course, when they return to 1991, it becomes apparent that the future-dudes have their own agenda (bet ya didn't see that coming). Godzilla has disappeared from history, and King Ghidorah has emerged, and is trashing Japan, and of course controlled by the future dudes who are holding modern-Japan to ransom.The story is pretty complicated, especially given all the time-travel stuff. Why the big-G has it in for Japan comes out a bit in an in interesting sub-plot. They missed a good opportunity to explore fate & destiny (ala Chrono Cross), but I suppose it would have detracted from the giant-monster action (and why else would you watch a Godzilla movie?).The giant-monster action in this movie is way cool. We see King Ghidorah trashing Japan, Godzilla (before he was famous) stomp all over US marines, Godzilla trashing Japan, and finally, the big-G and King Ghidorah face-off in Tokyo, in one of my favourite kaiju fight-scenes ever.The acting by the American characters is generally pretty bad, and the references to Steven Spielberg and The Terminator are funny (in a cheesy way).9/10
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :- Don't miss this one, 4 December 1999 Author: John Seal from Oakland CA
The first of Toho's new cycle of Godzilla features is also the best. It explains a considerable amount of daikaiju mythology (the creation of Godzilla, his love/hate relationship with Japan, the creation of Ghidrah) and has an exciting story with political overtones that also explores the love/hate relationship between Japan and the United States. Top rate.
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :- One wild ride!, 18 June 1999 Author: PlateOShrimp from Harrisburg, Pa
"Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah" is perhaps the most complex of the Heisei (1984 and on) Godzilla movies, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Instead of a simple plot, this plot throws around time travel, visitors from space, the early origins of Godzilla and a "Back To The Future"-esque take on changing history. Phew. "Destroy All Monsters", this isn't.Visitors from space (AND the future!) come to Japan telling of impending doom to the country at the hands of Godzilla. They propose taking a three-person group back in time to transport the original Godzillasaurus (which would be mutated into the "Big G" via an atomic explosion) away from the blast.They do so, but before leaving, these strange futuristic visitors leave three Dorats -- cute little flying fuzzy things -- on the island. Upon returning back to present time, we see the result of this move -- a gigantic, three-headed demon-like creature (King Ghidorah!) is now the king of Tokyo, tearing the place up like it's going out of style. Our futuristic alien friends weren't so friendly after all. Darn it!Meanwhile, we learn that the Godzillasaurus (which was dropped into the Bering Strait) was hit by a Russian nuclear sub, and has turned into an even bigger version of Godzilla! You can't stop fate, guys. Anyways...Godzilla shows up, lays a pounding on King Ghidorah, but the Japanese -- still not happy with Godzilla being around -- talk one of their new futuristic friends to go back in time and bring back Mecha-King Ghidorah, a robot version of the big monster.So she returns, climbs into the middle head cockpit of Mecha-King Ghidorah, smacks Godzilla around and drops him into the ocean. Japan is safe for the time being.This movie is positively goofy, yet I watched most of it with a big grin on my face. The battle scenes are entertaining, and all the twists and turns were a nice touch."Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah" is probably the most experimental of any Godzilla movie (barring the dreadful "Godzilla's Revenge"). It takes a few chances and somehow makes them work. Recommended for any G-fan.
2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :- Loved it., 26 December 2002 Author: Odin_Cat_of_Norway
This is probably my favorite Gojira movie ever made. It has double-crosses and triple-crosses (is that a word?) Let me explain: "the part where the futurians kill Gojira, and thusly create Kingugidora, so that they can destroy Japan, while saying they are helping Japan; then even after Kingugidora was killed by the newly formed in the Bering Strait from a downed nuclear-sub Gojira (wait a sec, this fits into their plan as well), who then destroys Japan, himself; only then to be destroyed (or was he...) by the super-cool Mecha-Kingugidora" bit was super awesome (note: that actually is a single sentence, but hey! you should read some of Dickens' works for even longer sentences), and also included the double (and triple) crosses said of earlier. Whew! That was a lot to say!
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