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Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla
(2002 film)
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| Alternate Title: | Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla (2002) |
| Directed By: | Masaaki Tezuka |
| Music By: | Michiru Oshima |
| Rating: | Not Rated |
| Running Time: | 88 minutesJP and US (1 hour, 28 minutes) |
| Aspect Ratio: | 2.35:1 |
| Monsters: | Godzilla Kiryu |
Summary
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla is a 2002 tokusatsu kaiju film produced by Toho, and the twenty-sixth installment in the Godzilla series, as well as the fourth in the Millennium series. The film was released to Japanese theaters on December 14, 2002.
Yet another reboot to the Godzilla continuity, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla reintroduces Godzilla's popular foe Mechagodzilla for the Millennium series. When a second Godzilla attacks Japan in 1999, the Japanese government dredges up the bones of the original Godzilla from 1954 and uses them to construct an anti-Godzilla weapon: codenamed Kiryu. Kiryu is completed by 2003, when Godzilla returns to menace Yokohama. Kiryu is sent to combat Godzilla, but the monster's roar awakens the first Godzilla's spirit within the machine, causing Kiryu to go berserk. Kiryu's lead scientist Tokumitsu Yuhara races to rectify this error in the machine before Godzilla makes landfall again. But even if Kiryu is fixed, the question remains if the government would willingly launch it again.
Plot
After a second Godzilla attacks Tateyama in the year 1999, the Japanese government decides to commission a robot constructed from the original Godzilla's bones, with help from the country's top scientists. Four years later, the cyborg, called Kiryu, is finished and inducted into the Japan Self-Defense Forces along with its human pilots, the Kiryu Squadron. At the same time, Godzilla shows up once again, even though the JSDF seemed to finally defeat him. In the midst of the first battle, the original Godzilla's soul inside Kiryu is awoken by Godzilla's roar, and brings with it the memories of his death years ago. This action makes Kiryu extremely angry and he proceeds to destroy the city around him. Horrified, the Kiryu Squadron can only watch in terror and alarm as the rampaging cyborg destroys more city property than Godzilla did.
Kiryu is brought back to headquarters for further work. Meanwhile, Kiryu's main pilot, Lieutenant Akane Yashiro, tries to settle matters involving second lieutenant Susumu Hayama, scientist Tokumitsu Yuhara and his distressed daughter, Sara, who thinks that using Kiryu to fight is wrong and that it should be friends with Godzilla. Kiryu was put out of commission, until Godzilla once again attacked. The prime minister of Japan realized how dire the situation was, and he sent Kiryu into battle. Missiles and lasers were fired.
The two creatures clashed, slowly knocking into each other. Missiles, masers, the wrist blade, and all of Kiryu's lesser weapons were used to contend with Godzilla at a close range. Kiryu sent Godzilla into a centrifugal throw as it began to charge its ultimate weapon: the Absolute Zero Cannon. Unfortunately, Kiryu was downed before it could be used. Its pilot, Akane Yashiro, managed to take manual control of the robot as the machine was recharged by an AC-3 White Heron. Kiryu was sent back into battle, disabling Godzilla's heat ray and unleashing its Absolute Zero Cannon. Godzilla managed to survive the brutal attack, although it dealt him a massive chest injury. Kiryu's power supply was exhausted, and the Absolute Zero Cannon was destroyed. Godzilla returned to the sea, as Japan could only watch on in a bittersweet stalemate.
US Release
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla was released on DVD in the United States by TriStar Pictures in 2004. TriStar used Toho's uncut international print of the film, including both Omni Productions' English dub and the original Japanese audio.
