Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)

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Godzilla films
GMK
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
Godzilla: Tokyo SOS
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
See alternate titles
The Japanese poster for Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
Directed by Masaaki Tezuka
Producer Shogo Tomiyama, Takahide Morichi
Written by Wataru Mimura
Music by Michiru Oshima
Special
effects by
Yuichi Kikuchi
Production company Toho Pictures
Distributor TohoJP, TriStar PicturesUS
Rating Not Rated,US, 2004 PGUS, 2022
Budget ¥1,000,000,000
Box office ¥1,910,000,000JP
$335,000US[1]
Running time 88 minutes
(1 hour, 28 minutes)
Aspect ratio 2.35:1
Rate this film!
4.39
(84 votes)

Startup - Resonance - Smashed Ice (起動・共鳴・氷砕)
„ 

— Japanese tagline

Fight 'til crumbled!
„ 

— International tagline

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (ゴジラ× (たい)メカゴジラ,   Gojira tai Mekagojira) is a 2002 tokusatsu kaiju film directed by Masaaki Tezuka and written by Wataru Mimura, with special effects by Yuichi Kikuchi. Produced by Toho Pictures, it is the 26th mainline installment in the Godzilla series and the 27th Godzilla film overall, as well as the fourth in the franchise's Millennium era. It stars Yumiko Shaku, Shin Takuma, Kana Onodera, Koh Takasugi, Yusuke Tomoi, Koichi Ueda, Kumi Mizuno, and Akira Nakao. The film premiered at the 15th Tokyo International Film Festival on November 2, 2002, before being released to Japanese theaters by Toho that December 14.[2] Columbia TriStar Home Video released it on DVD in the United States in 2004.

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 first Godzilla from 1954 and uses them to construct an anti-Godzilla weapon codenamed Kiryu. Kiryu is completed in 2003, when Godzilla returns to menace Yokohama. Kiryu is sent to combat Godzilla, but the monster's roar awakens the first Godzilla's soul within the cyborg, causing Kiryu to go berserk. Kiryu's lead scientist Tokumitsu Yuhara races to rectify this error in the cyborg before Godzilla makes landfall again. But even if Kiryu is fixed, the question remains if the government would willingly launch it again.

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla was followed by a direct sequel, Godzilla: Tokyo SOS, in 2003.

Plot

In 1999, a typhoon strikes Tateyama in Chiba Prefecture. Residents are shocked to see that it is no ordinary storm when a second Godzilla appears from the raging sea and comes ashore. The Anti-Megalosaurus Force (AMF) scrambles tanks and Type 90 Maser Cannons to intercept the beast. Godzilla is unharmed by the AMF's assault and annihilates the attacking forces with his atomic breath. Maser operator Akane Yashiro attempts to evade Godzilla's advance but accidentally backs into another vehicle, sending her commanding officer and its other occupants straight into Godzilla's path. Akane watches in horror as Godzilla steps on the vehicle, killing its occupants, before striking her Maser vehicle with his tail. She watches helplessly as Godzilla roars into the sky, lightning striking his dorsal fins. In the aftermath of the disaster, Japan's Prime Minister Machiko Tsuge meets with Minister of Science and Technology Hayato Igarashi to discuss countermeasures. They recall how the country was helpless in the wake of the first Godzilla's attack on Tokyo in 1954 before Dr. Daisuke Serizawa used his invention, the Oxygen Destroyer, to kill the monster along with himself to ensure that it could never be used again. Godzilla would prove to be the first of many monsters to raid Japan in the ensuing years, with Mothra attacking Tokyo seven years later in 1961. The JSDF used experimental Atomic Heat Ray Guns loaned by the Rolisican military to combat her, and by 1966 adapted this technology into the Type 66 Maser Cannon which it used in its battle with Gaira. With the appearance of a new Godzilla, and the more advanced Type 90 Maser Cannon ineffective against him, Tsuge and Igarashi both realize the necessity of developing a new weapon to defend the people of Japan.

Igarashi gathers the most brilliant scientific minds in Japan to help develop a new anti-Godzilla weapon. Among them is Professor Tokumitsu Yuhara, who has successfully recreated the extinct Trilobite using a combination of robotics and living components controlled by DNA computers. Igarashi shows them the skeletal remains of the first Godzilla, which were discovered off the Boso Peninsula. He asks Yuhara if he can extract a spinal cell from the skeleton, with Yuhara wondering if Igarashi intends to create a Godzilla clone. Igarashi explains that they are going to develop a bio-robot, a mechanical Godzilla created using the skeleton and DNA of the first Godzilla. Yuhara initially refuses to join the project out of a desire to spend more time with his daughter Sara, but changes his mind when the government allows her to stay with him at the development facility. Following an investigation into the accident that claimed the lives of her comrades, the AMF demotes Akane to a desk job. During this time, Akane continues to train rigorously, intent on working her way back into active duty.

By 2003, development on the AMF's anti-Godzilla cyborg, designated Kiryu, is complete. Lieutenant Togashi is assigned to lead the Kiryu Squad operating the machine, and he selects Akane to serve as its primary pilot. Kiryu is operated remotely from an accompanying fleet of AC-3 White Herons which transport him and can supply him with more energy using a large microwave dish. One member of the Kiryu Squad, Lieutenant Susumu Hayama, is distrustful and hostile toward Akane, blaming her for his brother's death in 1999. Dr. Yuhara is attracted to Akane and clumsily attempts to hit on her, but notices how distant she seems from her comrades. Akane begins to form a friendship with Sara, sharing her feelings of loneliness and isolation. Yuhara says he will buy Akane dinner if Kiryu beats Godzilla, but also says he will buy her dinner if Kiryu loses as consolation. The AMF soon formally reveals Kiryu to the world at large, demonstrating his capabilities and weapons. His most powerful weapon, the Absolute Zero Cannon, emits light at a temperature of 0 kelvin, instantly freezing and smashing the atoms of its target. During the presentation, the AMF detects Godzilla approaching Tokyo Bay. Kiryu is scrambled and intercepts Godzilla near Yokohama, bombarding him with volleys of rockets and missiles and the Maser beam fired from his mouth. As Godzilla is pushed back by Kiryu's onslaught, he lets out a roar that awakens the first Godzilla's consciousness which is still attached to the skeletal remains within Kiryu. Akane attempts to activate the Absolute Zero Cannon, but finds that she can no longer control Kiryu. Godzilla uses the opportunity to escape back into Tokyo Bay. As the White Herons close in to transport Kiryu, he opens fire at Hayama's aircraft with his wrist-mounted railgun. Kiryu begins destroying the surrounding area with his weapons, acting as if he was Godzilla. Hayama tries to draw Kiryu away from the city, but he shoots down his White Heron. Akane rushes into the downed White Heron and rescues Hayama before it explodes, prompting him to ask why she bothered to save him. The AMF's operators are unable to remotely shut down Kiryu, making their only option to wait until he runs out of energy in about an hour. After walking through a building, Kiryu finally shuts down as his energy reserves are completely depleted.

In the aftermath, Igarashi accepts public responsibility for Kiryu running wild and says he rushed the project. The AMF rushes to find the cause of Kiryu going berserk, with Yuhara eventually realizing that Godzilla's roar activated the original Godzilla's consciousness and allowed it to possess the machine. He implements preventative countermeasures to prevent it from happening again, but Igarashi is hesitant to allow Kiryu to be launched again. Sara feels pity for Kiryu, believing he is a living being with his own dignity who is being forced to fight Godzilla against his will. She tells her father and Akane that humans were responsible for awakening the first Godzilla in 1954 with the H-bomb, and their tampering with his remains have drawn the wrath of the current Godzilla. Akane feels sorry for Kiryu as well, saying his life is worthless like hers. This attitude upsets Sara and she storms off. Yuhara explains to Akane that when Sara was four, her mother became ill while pregnant with his child. The doctor said he could only save her or their child, with Yuhara asking to save his wife. His wife wanted the baby saved instead, and Sara wanted them both to live. Ultimately, both passed away, and ever since Sara has been sensitive about life and death. Akane finds Sara sitting on the roof and tries to talk to her, and again mentions how worthless she feels. Sara says that no life is worthless, even Akane's. Hayama later confronts Akane, angry that she saved his life. However, Akane's squadmates come to her defense, and she begins to realize that she isn't as isolated and alone as she previously thought.

Godzilla is detected by a submarine's sonar, and begins approaching Tokyo. Conventional forces and Maser Cannons are deployed to intercept him, but just as before their weapons are useless against him. With evacuations in Shinagawa still underway, Togashi goes to the Prime Minister's office to ask Igarashi to give the order to deploy Kiryu. Igarashi is still hesitant despite Togashi's insistence that Kiryu will not run wild again, but ultimately gives the order. As Akane and the rest of the Kiryu Squad prepare to go into battle, Sara holds her hand out to Akane in support. Kiryu is launched and flown over Tokyo, but with Godzilla closing in on evacuating civilians, Akane releases him from the White Heron's cables. Kiryu uses his boosters to fly toward the ground and ram into Godzilla before he can fire his atomic breath at the evacuees and the soldiers escorting them. Kiryu engages Godzilla once again, blasting him with his weapons from a distance before getting in close and fighting him hand-to-hand. Godzilla damages Kiryu's back unit and railguns, forcing him to jettison them. The battle rages on, with Kiryu finally gaining the upper hand and throwing Godzilla by the tail. Weakened by Kiryu's onslaught, Godzilla collapses to the ground. With Kiryu's energy reserves waning, the AMF order Akane to finish Godzilla with the Absolute Zero Cannon. Just as the weapon charges, Godzilla uses his atomic breath to knock Kiryu backward, causing the weapon to misfire and vaporize several buildings. Kiryu's control system is damaged by Godzilla's atomic breath, rendering him inoperable from the White Heron. Akane volunteers to board Kiryu and pilot him manually. The AMF uses its ground units to distract Godzilla long enough for Akane to enter the cockpit inside of Kiryu. The local power companies compile their power and allow the AMF to transmit it into Kiryu, rendering him operational once more.

Akane speaks to Kiryu, saying they understand each other, and uses the manual controls to make him stand back up. Godzilla blasts Kiryu in the back with his atomic breath, knocking him to the ground once again. Akane briefly loses consciousness, but is inspired by the support of her squadmates, Sara, and Yuhara, and quickly recovers. Seeing Godzilla about to fire his atomic breath again, Hayama forces his copilot to eject and flies his White Heron into the path of the blast. The blast destroys the White Heron's wing and it crashes into Godzilla's mouth. Hayama tells Akane to fire the Absolute Zero while Godzilla cannot fire his beam and to ignore him. Instead, Akane flies Kiryu into Godzilla while the Absolute Zero Cannon charges, tears the White Heron out of his mouth so that Hayama can safely eject, and carries Godzilla over Tokyo Bay. Kiryu and Godzilla crash into the bay, and Akane activates the Absolute Zero Cannon underwater. A huge blast of water erupts from the bay and promptly freezes solid before finally shattering. After a few moments, Godzilla rises from the water, with a bloody gaping wound in his chest. He weakly turns around and begins making his way out to sea as the damaged Kiryu rises from the water behind him. With Kiryu missing an arm, out of power, and his Absolute Zero Cannon destroyed, Akane reports that she is unable to pursue Godzilla. Yuhara reassures Akane that she did a great job, and Togashi tells her that a White Heron is coming to rescue her. Igarashi remarks that although Kiryu did not kill Godzilla, he managed to drive him away. Japan finally has a weapon more powerful than Godzilla, which he says represents a great victory. Akane stands atop Kiryu's shoulder and watches Godzilla disappear into the horizon.

Following the battle, Akane observes Kiryu as he undergoes repairs in an AMF hangar. Yuhara and Sara come to greet her, with Akane thanking Sara for teaching her the value of her own life. Yuhara says he will take Akane to dinner since Kiryu won, but she tells him that it was a draw. In that case, she says, she will treat him to dinner instead. Just before exiting the hangar, Akane turns and salutes Kiryu.

Staff

Main article: Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla/Credits.

Staff role on the left, staff member's name on the right.

Cast

Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.

  • Yumiko Shaku   as   Lieutenant Akane Yashiro, Kiryu Squad Operator / Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise evacuee holding dog[3]
  • Shin Takuma   as   Professor Tokumitsu Yuhara
  • Kana Onodera   as   Sara Yuhara
  • Koh Takasugi   as   Lieutenant Togashi, Kiryu Squad Commander
  • Yusuke Tomoi   as   Lieutenant Susumu Hayama, Kiryu Squad AC-3 White Heron Units 3 and 6 Pilot
  • Shinji Morisue   as   Hayama's older brother
  • Junichi Mizuno   as   Lieutenant Kenji Sekine, Kiryu Squad AC-3 White Heron Units 3 and 6 Pilot
  • Eiji Oki   as   Television host
  • Tomohiko Ebihara   as   AC-3 White Heron pilot
  • Jun Aoki   as   White Heron pilot
  • Masahiko Sakata   as   Analysis department worker
  • Hiroaki Iyama   as   Air Self-Defense Forces executive
  • Midori Hagio   as   Professor Kaoru Yamada, microwave scientist
  • Akira Shirai   as   Professor Shinji Akamatsu, robotics engineer
  • Naomasa Musaka   as   Professor Goro Kanno, low temperature physicist
  • Yukikazu Kano   as   Hishinuma
  • Takeo Nakahara   as   Staff Sergeant Ichiyanagi
  • Koichi Ueda   as   Dobashi, Director General of the Defense Agency
  • Kumi Mizuno   as   Prime Minister Machiko Tsuge
  • Akira Nakao   as   Prime Minister Hayato Igarashi, formerly Minister of Science and Technology
  • Musashi Miura   as   JSDF personnel
  • Yoko Sato   as   Iyama disaster site announcer
  • Katsumi Ide   as   NWK Announcer
  • Ken Yamamoto   as   Type 90 Maser Cannon gunner
  • Hiroshi Nishioka   as   Hishinuma's subordinate
  • Anzu Nagai   as   Sara's friend
  • Hitomi Tomashino   as   Sara's friend
  • Yuki Takahashi   as   Sara's friend
  • Nobuhiro Nishihara   as   Sara's friend
  • Paul Kaminski   as   Foreign journalist
  • Maria Theresa Gow   as   Foreign journalist
  • Hideki Matsui   as   Himself
  • Takehiro Murata   as   Tateyama convenience store clerk
  • Taro J. Sugisaka   as   Man evacuating by car
  • Shingo Yanagisawa   as   Man crushed by Godzilla in Tateyama
  • Katsuo Nakamura   as   Yasushi Torisawa
  • Misato Tanaka   as   Tsujimori, nurse at Shinagawa East Hospital
  • Toshiyuki Nagashima   as   Lieutenant Miyagawa
  • Shosuke Tanihara   as   Trooper Kudo
  • Naomi Fujiyama   as   Evacuating patient in Shinagawa
  • Minoru Tanaka   as   Defense Agency Technical Institute security guard
  • Tetsu Watanabe   as   Special executive B
  • Jun Eto   as   Special executive
  • Mitsuru Fukikoshi   as   Announcer in Tateyama
  • Sawako Kitahara   as   Yuhara's wife
  • Yasuo Kurashiki   as   Ground SDF trooper
  • Tsutomu Kitagawa   as   Godzilla / First Generation Godzilla / Maser Cannon crew
  • Hirofumi Ishigaki   as   Kiryu / Maser Cannon crew
  • Masaaki Tezuka   as   AMF officer
  • Wataru Mimura   as   Refugee
  • Hiroshi Kashiwabara   as   Refugee
  • Masahiro Yokotani   as   Refugee
  • Makoto Kamiya   as   Refugee
  • Shinji Nishikawa   as   Kiryu mechanic
  • Yasushi Torisawa   as   Kiryu mechanic
  • Hiroshi Maruyama   as   Kiryu mechanic
  • Kenji Suzuki   as   Maser Cannon crew
  • Akihiko Hirata   as   Dr. Daisuke Serizawa (stock footage)

Appearances

Monsters

Weapons, vehicles, and races

Gallery

Main article: Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla/Gallery.

Soundtrack

Main article: Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla/Soundtrack.

Alternate titles

Godzilla x Mechagodzilla logo
  • Godzilla × Mechagodzilla (literal Japanese title)
    • Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (alternate translation)
  • GXMG (abbreviated title)
  • Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (III) (Australia / New Zealand DVD title)[4]
  • The Return of Mechagodzilla (Powrót Mechagodzilli; Poland)

Theatrical releases

View all posters for the film here.

  • Japan - November 2, 2002 (Tokyo International Film Festival);[2] December 13, 2002   [view poster]Japanese poster
  • South Korea - January 2003
  • United States - November 3, 2022 (Fathom Events)

U.S. release

U.S. Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla DVD cover

Columbia TriStar Home Video released Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla to DVD in the United States on March 24, 2004. TriStar used Toho's uncut international print of the film, including both the English dub and the original Japanese audio. Its U.S. theatrical premiere took place on June 24 the same year at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles, as part of a series commemorating Godzilla's 50th birthday.[5]

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brought Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla to Blu-ray in 2014, paired with Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. The film played in select U.S. theaters for one day only on November 3, 2022, in celebration of Godzilla's birthday, through Fathom Events.[6] It was shown in Japanese with English subtitles and prefaced by the 2021 Godzilla vs. Hedorah short film, a behind-the-scenes featurette for that short,[7] and a special message from Toho's Chief Godzilla Officer, Keiji Ota. While the movie did not receive a rating from the MPA for its previous home video releases, it was given a PG rating for this screening.

Box office

Budgeted at roughly $8,500,000, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla opened in Japan on December 13, 2002, and earned $2,253,231 in its opening weekend. It went on to gross approximately $16,000,000 in Japan, making it the second biggest of the Millennium Godzilla films at the box office. It sold approximately 1,700,000 admissions.

The U.S. Fathom Events screenings of the film on November 3, 2022 grossed $335,000, placing fifth among films that Thursday.[1]

Reception

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla is generally liked by Godzilla fans for introducing what some consider the best incarnation of Mechagodzilla.

Mike Pinsky of DVD Talk gave the film three stars out of five, saying: "While I did have some minor complaints, [this is] a fine entry in the series." Pinsky said "the plot is more interesting than most giant monster movies," and "the battle scenes, which are the main reason anyone watches these films to begin with, were great." Matt Paprocki of Blog Critics said the film is "pretty flawed, [but] those of us who still love seeing Japan get trampled are in for a treat." Stomp Tokyo praised the "great monster fight action" but criticized the "uncompelling non-monster scenes." Giving the film a "B+" score, Mark Zimmer of Digitally Obsessed said that it was "a good deal of fun and one of the better entries in the series." Digital Monster Island gave the film a "B" rating, calling it "a fun and exciting film that should please most kaiju fans."

Video releases

Toho DVD (2003)

  • Region: 2
  • Audio: Japanese

Universal Laser & Video DVD (2003)

  • Region: 3
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono), Cantonese (2.0 Surround and DTS)
  • Special features: Japanese trailers for Godzilla 2000 and Godzilla vs. Megaguirus
  • Notes: Includes traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles. Out of print.

TriStar DVD (2004)[8]

  • Region: 1
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Japanese (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  • Special features: Trailers

Madman DVD (2004)

  • Region: 4

Sony Blu-ray (2014)

  • Region: A/1
  • Discs: 2
  • Audio: Japanese (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1)
  • Special features: Teaser for Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack and trailer for Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
  • Notes: Packaged with Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack.

Videos

Trailers

Japanese trailer #1
Japanese trailer #2
U.S. Fathom Events trailer #1
U.S. Fathom Events trailer #2

Trivia

External links

References

This is a list of references for Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Daily Domestic Chart for Thursday November 3, 2022". The Numbers. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "TIFF特別招待作品『ゴジラ×メカゴジラ』舞台挨拶". CINEMATOPICS. 26 November 2002. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  3. Madu (16 July 2023). "Yumiko Shaku Introduction Speech Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla G-Fest". YouTube.
  4. Godzilla - Millennium Series Boxset - DVD - Madman Entertainment
  5. "KING OF MONSTERS -- A 50th BIRTHDAY SALUTE TO GODZILLA!". Egyptian Theatre. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  6. "Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla". Fathom Events. 4 October 2022.
  7. Kirby, Brian (3 November 2022). "It was fun! They showed the Godzilla vs. Hedorah anniversary short with a BTS beforehand. #driveinmob". Twitter.
  8. Amazon.com: Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2004)
  9. Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works. villagebooks, 2012. Pages 276-279. ISBN 9784864910132.
  10. Godzilla X Mechagodzilla 2003 (Toho SF Special Effects Film Series SPECIAL EDITION). Toho Publishing, 2003. ISBN 4924609838.

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