Godzilla 2000 (Takao Okawara, 1999)

So fifteen years later it was time again, Godzilla 2000 entered the scene as yet another reboot, more or less ignoring the movies in-between the 1954 flick and this one. Toho didn't plan to restart their franchise so fast, but after the bad reception of Roland Emmerich horrendous American Godzilla from 1998 Toho fastforwarded their 2004 planned 50 year tribute to Godzilla and gave us one of the better, and more serious, part in the series so far.

Once again Toho takes everything up a notch or two already the start - yet another fishing boat, but this time in the jaws of Godzilla, which is cleverly filmed at the beginning, so the big G becomes a suprise, is destroyed and this of coure starts Godzilla’s new mayhem-filled walk over the Japanese landscapes. This time we follow a man, Shinoda, and his family who traces Godzilla - and he belongs to a small network of geeks who’s very interested in monsters. Imagine tornado chasers, but huge motherfucking monster chasers instead. Godzilla is awake again, but not necessary just to fuck around with the humans, but to protect them against the giant stone who has appeared in the sea outside Japan! The stone is, of course, an giant alien monster named Orga and he really wanna fuck things up!

First lets talk about the visuals. Toho have gone out of their mind to make this Godzilla the most alive movie ever in the series, and with that I mean advanced and quite realistic combinations of Godzilla - as usual a man in suit - in real environments, often with the camera moving around (like from a helicopter) or just panning around. Even if the effects might hold up today it still looks awesome. I have a lot of favorite shots, but the one where Godzilla walks in the distance behind a moving car, with the sundown in the background is breathtaking. So is the elegant miniatures, the best I’ve seen since the early sixties.

Compared to Godzilla 1984, the monster herself is a lot more lizard-like, but still feels more human - probably because she’s able to move more than some earlier version I’ve seen. But don’t worry, Godzilla is still a violent monster and completely destroys a lot of valuable property either by body strength or with her deadly ray of blue fire. The opponent, Orga, have several different looks - the stone, a UFO, a CG squid-esque thing and finally the real rubber monster, which looks terribly cool - like Rancor on steroids!

Godzilla 2000 might not break any new ground, but it goes back to the roots once again and delivers a spectacular adventure with thrilling special effects, mass destruction and rubber monsters galore. The ending is wonderfully doomed, one of those endings that gives you goosebumps. This is another favorite of mine, hidden in-between the storywise more absurd movies before and after. Add to this a powerful score, rich and close to Hollywood-esque - but still with a dash of that Japanse march-style Ifukube made so popular!

Now I need to find a version with Japanese language and English subs! I’ve only seen this fucker dubbed to English! THAT’S a damn scandal!

Comments

[Fredrik]

I saw this many years ago, and even if I don't remember much of it I remember liking it at the time. I checked the edition I have, and it's a region 3-release from Universe Laser (www.u333.com). It's got japanese and cantonese audio tracks.

[Fred Anderson]

I have that release also, but on my disc you can't reach the japanese track and have English subs at the same time.so I had to watch the us dvd.

[Megatron]

"but after the bad reception of Roland Emmerich horrendous American Godzilla from 1998"

I try to forget this one.....but it´s Emmerich....lower your expectations.

"The opponent, Orga, have several different looks - the stone, a UFO, a CG squid-esque thing and finally the real rubber monster, which looks terribly cool - like Rancor on steroids!"

Never heard about Orga before.....must be an awesome sight to behold.

"Now I need to find a version with Japanese language and English subs! I’ve only seen this fucker dubbed to English! THAT’S a damn scandal!"

Happy hunting, good review and thanks Fred.

[Toscana]

I heared that there will come a new Godzile movie these years,do you know if it is true?

[Fred Anderson]

Well, you have the new american Godzilla movie in about two months - which looks fantastic!