Heisei Era Godzilla Films | |||||||
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Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla II
(1993 film)
Alternate Title: | Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla (1993) |
Directed By: | Takao Okawara |
Music By: | Akira Ifukube |
Rating: | PG |
Running Time: | 108 minutesJP (1 hour, 48 minutes) 106 minutesUS (1 hour, 46 minutes) |
Aspect Ratio: | 1.85:1 |
Monsters: | Godzilla MechaGodzilla II Rodan Baby Godzilla Mothra Mecha-King Ghidorah |
Summary
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II is a 1993 tokusatsu kaiju film produced by Toho, and the twentieth installment in the Godzilla series, as well as the fifth in the Heisei series. The film was released to Japanese theaters on December 11, 1993.
After the successful revivals of King Ghidorah and Mothra in the previous two films, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II brings back the last two of Toho's "Big Five" kaiju: Mechagodzilla and Rodan. In order to counter the threat posed by Godzilla, the United Nations Godzilla Countermeasures Center has completed the ultimate anti-Godzilla weapon, Mechagodzilla. On the radiation-polluted Adonoa Island, scientists discover a perfectly intact Pteranodon egg, only to be attacked by its nestmate, the giant mutated Pteranodon Rodan. Godzilla arrives as well to claim the egg, allowing the scientists to escape with it as Godzilla and Rodan fight. When the egg hatches into a baby Godzillasaurus rather than a Pteranodon, G-Force intends to use the infant as bait to lure Godzilla to the Ogasawara Islands where he can be killed by Mechagodzilla. However, Rodan throws a wrench into the plan when he intercepts the convoy carrying Baby Godzilla, setting up a final battle between himself, Godzilla, and Mechagodzilla near Makuhari Bay.
Plot
In 1992, the United Nations establishes a special task force to combat the threat posed to mankind by Godzillaa, the United Nations Godzilla Countermeasures Center (U.N.G.C.C.), also known as Counter-G. The U.N.G.C.C.'s military branch, G-Force, recruits the world's brightest scientific minds to construct a fighting machine to battle Godzilla. The result of this initiative is an aerial warship known as Garuda, but it is deemed too weak to effectively stand against Godzilla. G-Force salvages the remnants of Mecha-King Ghidorah, a cyborg built in the year 2204, and reverse-engineers its components in order to use them to build its own new robot. Constructed with the utmost in modern technology, the machine is designed in Godzilla's own image. G-Force dubs its ultimate weapon MechaGodzilla II. Construction of Mechagodzilla is nearly completed by 1994, under the direction of Dr. Leo Asimov and G-Force's Commander Takaaki Aso. Kazuma Aoki, a pilot who worked on the construction of Garuda, is ordered to report to Takuya Sasaki, the Captain of the Mechagodzilla team. Sasaki informs Aoki that he has been selected to work as one of Mechagodzilla's pilots, and Aoki is put through a rigorous training protocol.
Meanwhile, a team of Japanese scientists led by Professor Hiroshi Omae arrives on the remote Adonoa Island in the Bering Sea to investigate a Pteranodon fossil unearthed by Russian petroleum workers. Omae is impressed by the remarkable condition of the fossil, but is informed that a nest was also found on the island. Upon reaching the nest, the scientists find a seemingly intact Pteranodon egg and a hatched one. The scientists decide to bring the egg back to Omae's institute in Kyoto, and begin loading it into a helicopter. As the egg is being prepared for transport, a huge Pteranodon lands on a cliff overlooking the scientists' camp and roars. Omae identifies the creature as Rodan, a Pteranodon that grew to gigantic size due to being exposed to the nuclear waste dumped on Adonoa Island by the Russians, similar to how Godzilla was created. Rodan flies over the camp and attacks the scientists, who try to flee to the edge of the island. They arrive on a cliff above the ocean, and witness the water below flashing. Rodan lands on a perch and looks into the water, only for a blue beam to blast out of the sea and nearly strike Rodan. Godzilla then surfaces from the water and roars at Rodan, who flies over the water and roars back. Godzilla comes ashore on the island and initiates battle with Rodan. While the monsters fight, the scientists successfully load the egg onto their chopper and escape the island. Godzilla finally defeats Rodan by stomping him into the ground and then blasting him multiple times with his atomic breath at point-blank range. His foe seemingly dead, Godzilla returns to the ocean and begins following the chopper back to Japan.
When Aoki, a self-proclaimed "Pteranodon enthusiast," learns about the egg being held in Kyoto, he immediately travels to the institute to try and get a closer look. Aoki enters the lab where researcher Azusa Gojo is watching over the egg, and begins taking pictures of it. Azusa is annoyed and tells Aoki she will be forced to call security if he doesn't leave. Aoki tries to persuade Azusa otherwise, but eventually gives in and leaves. Azusa meets with Omae, who shows her a series of photographs taken of the egg at various times. He notes that sometimes the egg glows bright red, which happened as they were taking it from his nest. He believes the red glow indicates that the creature inside the egg is frightened. The egg also glows red whenever Azusa is not present in the lab. Omae believes that the creature inside the egg has been listening to outside sounds in an attempt to recognize its mother's voice, but instead heard Azusa and imprinted on her. Aoki, having managed to steal a plant sample that was taken from the egg, encounters Miki Saegusa at G-Force's headquarters, who claims she senses a strong psychic energy emanating from the plant. She brings it to the Psychic Development Center and allows her students to try and measure its energy instead. The students feed the plant's energy into a tape, which produces a strange melody. Miki and Aoki bring the tape to Omae at the institute in Kyoto, and play it. The melody has a strange effect on the egg, which begins to hatch while Azusa is on duty. Azusa calls Omae and the others into the lab, and they are all stunned to see that the hatchling is not a Pteranodon, but something different. Miki identifies the hatchling as a Godzillasaurus, the same species which Godzilla originated as before being irradiated. Miki says that unlike Godzilla himself, the Godzillasaurus species is docile and non-aggressive. The hatchling, which Azusa names Baby Godzilla, demonstrates his gentle nature by affectionately nudging his surrogate mother, and eating a flower she feeds him. As the group marvels over the creature, Miki senses Godzilla approaching.
Consistent with Miki's premonition, Godzilla appears at Yokkaichi, and begins heading directly for Kyoto. G-Force scrambles its units and prepares Mechagodzilla for launch. With Aoki in Kyoto, Sasaki is forced to recruit a backup pilot for the machine. Mechagodzilla is launched and lands in front of Godzilla in the countryside outside of Kyoto. Mechagodzilla fires its mega buster ray at Godzilla, who counters with his atomic breath. Godzilla's beam is harmlessly absorbed by Mechagodzilla's synthetic diamond armor, then converted into concentrated plasma energy and fired back through the plasma grenade. This beam knocks Godzilla to the ground and injures him. Mechagodzilla then fires paralyzer missiles at the downed Godzilla, then launches two shock anchor harpoons into his body. Mechagodzilla begins discharging a powerful electrical surge into Godzilla, causing him to roar in pain and foam at the mouth. Suddenly, Godzilla flashes red and the electrical current is reversed back into Mechagodzilla. Mechagodzilla short-circuits and becomes immobilized, allowing Godzilla to get back to his feet and knock Mechagodzilla down. Godzilla roars victoriously, then continues on his way, leaving Mechagodzilla badly damaged. G-Force deploys conventional military units to try and halt Godzilla, but he easily dispatches them with his atomic breath. G-Force is left helpless as Godzilla enters Kyoto and begins tearing through the city. Miki and the others realize that Godzilla is being called there by BabyGodzilla, and decide to try and isolate him by moving him to a secure storage room in the basement. When Godzilla reaches the institute, he is unable to locate BabyGodzilla, then destroys the upper levels of the building in frustration before returning to the ocean.
G-Force assumes custody of BabyGodzilla, and moves him to a secure facility. Azusa is allowed to continue caring for the infant, which G-Force deems to be an important asset. Sasaki confronts Aoki and strips him of his position on the Mechagodzilla team, assigning him to work at the U.N.G.C.C.'s parking garage. Frustrated, Aoki begins working on a way to improve Garuda in his spare time, then corners Dr. Asimov when he is trying to enter the parking garage. Asimov is impressed by Aoki's proposal to improve Garuda's combat power, but asks what they will have to do with Mechagodzilla. Aoki proposes modifying both machines to allow Garuda to dock onto Mechagodzilla's back, combining their offensive capabilities. Asimov approves Aoki's plan, and he is re-promoted to being a pilot. Aoki visits Azusa at the facility holding BabyGodzilla, and shows her the new vehicle he has been working on: the Pteranodon Robot. Aoki allows Azusa to ride on it, but as it flies its engines sputter and it crashes in BabyGodzilla's enclosure. Thankfully, both Aoki and Azusa are unharmed, and Aoki packs up the robots wreckage. As he is doing so, Miki and a group of her students enter the facility to see BabyGodzilla. Miki says the girls have learned to sing a song for Baby, and Azusa asks them to perform it. As they sing, they are heard by Rodan all the way on Adonoa Island. Rodan recovers from the injuries he sustained in his battle with Godzilla, then transforms into Fire Rodan and begins flying to Japan. The song also has an effect on BabyGodzilla, who begins thrashing violently against the fence and roaring. Azusa is able to calm BabyGodzilla down, but is unsure what caused him to act like this. Miki realizes that the song, the same song produced by the plant found on BabyGodzilla's egg, gives him a huge intake of power.
G-Force assembles several of its highest-ranking members along with Miki to discuss the latest anti-Godzilla plan. Studies of BabyGodzilla's anatomy reveal that he possesses a secondary brain in his hip area that controls all motor function in his lower body. Because Godzilla and Baby are of the same species, logic would dictate that he must possess the same structure. G-Force's plan is to use BabyGodzilla to lure Godzilla to the Ogasawara Islands, then use Mechagodzilla to target and destroy his second brain, crippling him and allowing Mechagodzilla to finally destroy him. Commander Aso says that this plan has been codenamed "G-Crusher," and should finally result in Godzilla's death. Miki objects to using BabyGodzilla as a decoy, but Aso informs her that she will be watching over Baby, as she will be onboard Mechagodzilla during the operation. Miki's psychic abilities will allow her to more easily locate Godzilla's second brain so Mechagodzilla can target and destroy it. When Azusa learns of the plan, she appeals to Minister Takayuki Segawa and asks him to cancel the plan, but he tells her there is no room for sentimentality and that Baby must be used in the plan. As BabyGodzilla is being loaded onto a canister for transport to Ogasawara, his eyes begin glowing red in fear. Azusa runs up to Baby to comfort him, then insists on accompanying him inside the canister. G-Force obliges and closes the doors on the canister, which is airlifted by a helicopter toward the Ogasawara Islands. Just as the chopper is leaving, Fire Rodan is spotted in Japanese airspace. Fire Rodan passes over Sendai and intercepts the helicopter, destroying it and grabbing the canister. Fire Rodan touches down in Makuhari and begins trying to break open the container with his beak. G-Force deploys Mechagodzilla to battle Fire Rodan and reclaim the canister, while Aoki takes command of Garuda and accompanies Mechagodzilla into battle. Mechagodzilla arrives at Makuhari and confronts Fire Rodan, who blasts it with his newly-acquired uranium heat beam. Sasaki tells Aoki to distract Fire Rodan and get him clear of the container so Mechagodzilla can safely use its plasma grenade against him. Garuda flies overhead and begins blasting Fire Rodan with its lasers until he takes flight and begins chasing after it. Fire Rodan slams into Garuda with his chest spikes, causing the craft to spin out of control and crash into a building. Fire Rodan turns his attention to Mechagodzilla and begins firing his heat beam, but Mechagodzilla fires its plasma grenade at Rodan, sending him slamming into a skyscraper, which collapses on top of him. Mechagodzilla approaches the rubble, but Fire Rodan breaks free and attacks Mechagodzilla up close, pecking out its right eye with his beak. Mechagodzilla fires the plasma grenade again up close, shredding Fire Rodan's chest and blasting him away. Rodan lies on his back, bleeding heavily from the chest and mouth and seemingly dying.
Before G-Force can celebrate its victory, Godzilla emerges from the ocean and begins coming ashore. Mechagodzilla turns to face Godzilla and fires its mega buster ray as Godzilla fires his atomic breath. The beams lock in midair, then burst in a flash of light, knocking Godzilla to the ground and causing Mechagodzilla to overheat. Godzilla gets back to his feet and charges at Mechagodzilla, grabbing his mechanical doppelganger by the head and throwing him. Godzilla begins stomping on Mechagodzilla's head and slamming the machine with his tail, as Mechagodzilla is left helpless on the ground. Sasaki manages to reestablish contact with Aoki, and tells him to distract Godzilla. Aoki successfully restarts Garuda and flies back into combat, firing laser beams at Godzilla and drawing him away from Mechagodzilla. Mechagodzilla successfully stands back up and Garuda docks onto its back, forming Super Mechagodzilla. Super Mechagodzilla begins hovering and opens fire on Godzilla with its staggering array of weaponry, which now includes Garuda's laser cannons. The onslaught knocks Godzilla to the ground, and Super Mechagodzilla takes the opportunity to fire tranquilizer missiles at him. As Godzilla weakly staggers back to his feet, Super Mechagodzilla fires its shock anchor harpoons into his lower body, then begins discharging electricity. Miki uses a targeting computer to pinpoint the location of Godzilla's second brain, and once she finds it Super Mechagodzilla releases an electrical surge into the brain that ruptures it. Godzilla is immediately crippled and falls face-first to the ground. Aoki exclaims that they have finally beaten Godzilla, then exits Garuda inside his Pteranodon Robot. Aoki lands near the container holding Azusa and BabyGodzilla, where Professor Omae and some soldiers are working to try and free them, and immediately runs up to it to make sure Azusa is alright. Sasaki gives the order to finish Godzilla, and Super Mechagodzilla begins unleashing all of its weapons on the helpless Godzilla. At this moment, BabyGodzilla becomes distressed and breaks free of the container, calling out to Fire Rodan. Though mortally wounded, Fire Rodan hears his surrogate brother's call and takes flight. Super Mechagodzilla shoots Fire Rodan down with its mega buster, and he falls on top of Godzilla. Suddenly, Fire Rodan begins glowing brightly and transfers his energy into Godzilla. Miki sees that Fire Rodan's energy has restored Godzilla's second brain, which Sasaki cannot believe. As Fire Rodan dissipates into nothing, Godzilla's eyes open and he roars furiously. Godzilla gets back up to his feet and gives off a powerful nuclear pulse, which is too hot for Super Mechagodzilla's diamond armor to withstand. Super Mechagodzilla's armor plate begins to melt, and Godzilla blasts it with an extremely powerful red version of his atomic breath wrapped in a golden spiral. The beam badly damages Super Mechagodzilla and causes it to stagger backward. Super Mechagodzilla fires its mega buster, which again locks with Godzilla's atomic breath. When the beams explode, Super Mechagodzilla falls backward onto a building while Godzilla is unharmed. Godzilla again blasts Super Mechagodzilla with his red spiral heat beam, which blows off Mechagodzilla's head and finally triggers the machine to explode. As Godzilla roars victoriously, Sasaki and the rest of Mechagodzilla's crew emerge unharmed from the cockpit, despite the computer claiming there are no survivors.
With Godzilla approaching their location, Aoki and Omae board a helicopter and tell Azusa to do the same. Azusa realizes she cannot care for BabyGodzilla anymore, and tearfully embraces him and says goodbye. As Azusa boards the helicopter, she looks back to see Baby desperately tugging on her shirt with tears welling in his eyes. Azusa apologizes to Baby, but begs him to understand that she can't care for him anymore. She embraces Baby one last time, then closes the chopper door and departs, leaving BabyGodzilla alone in a field as Godzilla approaches. Godzilla roars at BabyGodzilla, which frightens him and sends him running behind the canister. Azusa contacts Miki and asks her to use her telepathy to convince Baby to go away with Godzilla, to live with his own kind. Miki says she will try, and stands on top of Mechagodzilla's cockpit, transmitting psychic messages to both Godzilla and Baby. Baby finally understands, and slowly approaches Godzilla. Godzilla roars softly at the infant, a look of gentleness on his normally hostile face. Baby roars back, and begins following Godzilla out to sea. As Godzilla and Baby depart, Mechagodzilla's crew look on, remarking that life always triumphs against artificial life. Azusa and Aoki climb to the top of a hill to watch Godzilla and Baby leave, and ponder the possibility of a new dinosaur age beginning long after man's time on Earth has ended. Azusa says that whenever that time comes, both Godzilla and his newly-adopted son will be waiting for it.
U.S. release
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II was released directly to VHS in the United States in August of 1999 by TriStar Pictures. It was the last Heisei movie to receive a U.S. release. As with its previous Heisei tapes, TriStar chose to simply use the international English dub of the film. However, the dub included in this release was actually the second international English dub recorded for the film. This second dub is known to have been recorded sometime in April or May 1998, as voice actor Craig Allen mentions performing "repairs" to the film's dub at that time. It is notable for referring to Rodan only by his Japanese name, "Radon," throughout the entire film. Although much of the principal cast was re-dubbed, about 11 minutes of voice work from the original dub survives as incidental voice work in the film's Hindi dub, listed as following:
- Opening narration
- Grunts and exclamations during Kazuma's G-Force martial arts training
- Male intercom voice throughout the film
- Female telecaster covering the events on Adonoa Island
- Azusa exclaiming as BabyGodzilla hatches
- Various large crowd panicking scenes throughout the film
- Background chatter in G-Force war room
- Background chatter as Sasaki and his co-pilots board Mechagodzilla
- Dr. Asimov's original voice actor is retained throughout the entire film, sans the line "It is impossible for them to fight in that condition! They'll be lucky if they make it back!," which was redubbed
- Voice actor Simon Broad's reading of the the lines "This is Lizard One. Course 167." and "Roger. Returning to base. Over."
- The line "Sir, Radon's landed!"
- Azusa screaming as Rodan breaks open the container
TriStar did not cut any footage from the film aside from the end credits, which were replaced by a black screen with copyright information. TriStar did not give the film a DVD release until 2005; unlike their previous Heisei releases, it was not packaged with another movie and included the original Japanese language track, though the English subtitles for this track were simply derived from the script of the English dub. When Sony released the film on Blu-ray in 2014 in a double feature with Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, it left the end credits uncut.