65 reviews
Best of 70's Zilla
Toho realized something after their abysmal GODZILLA VS. MEGALON and hence were smart enough to put a bit more effort into their subsequent two films. GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA suffered from a lot of the same 70's goofiness of the previous films and some serious pacing issues, but overall was certainly a step in the right direction.
Wisely, Toho decided to go old-school with the sequel and brought back Inoshiro Honda to direct and Akira Ifukube to compose one of his best musical scores yet for the series. The result certainly brings this film a level of class lacking in most of the Godzilla films following VS. MOTHRA though unfortunately there's a lot of silliness yet to be had.
Plotwise we get the same tired old formula of aliens plotting to conquer earth with a monster (or two this time - Titanosaurus makes for an interesting newcomer) aided by a mad scientist hot for revenge against "those fools". Fortunately, Godzilla is out to stop them but isn't in full-blown hero mode. Instead, Godzilla seems to be fighting them more out of the fact that he's just plain pi**ed off, and he's got an impressive new suit to show it.
Effects-wise you have to understand that Teruyoshi Nakano was working at 1/3 to 1/2 the budget of what his mentor Tsuburaya had to work with, so in that respect his work is quite impressive. This film features a triumphant return of the city-stomp with a show-stopping sequence involving Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus laying waste to downtown Tokyo. Don't mind that they blow up the same row of buildings at least 4 times in a row - it's all great fun and showcases a lot of great pyrotechnics.
There's a lot of bizarre moments in the climactic monster-on-monster violence and a lot of iffy continuity. For instance, Godzilla knocks Titanosaurus out of the way and then tackles Mechagodzilla to the ground but in the very next shot, Godzilla is lying down alone and Titanosaurus is suddenly there kicking him in the head. (?) Most likely a case of bad editing more than anything.
Overall a worthy candidate for a way to spend a rainy afternoon. The 70's may have been a Godzilla nadir but this film is the highpoint of that lowpoint.
Wisely, Toho decided to go old-school with the sequel and brought back Inoshiro Honda to direct and Akira Ifukube to compose one of his best musical scores yet for the series. The result certainly brings this film a level of class lacking in most of the Godzilla films following VS. MOTHRA though unfortunately there's a lot of silliness yet to be had.
Plotwise we get the same tired old formula of aliens plotting to conquer earth with a monster (or two this time - Titanosaurus makes for an interesting newcomer) aided by a mad scientist hot for revenge against "those fools". Fortunately, Godzilla is out to stop them but isn't in full-blown hero mode. Instead, Godzilla seems to be fighting them more out of the fact that he's just plain pi**ed off, and he's got an impressive new suit to show it.
Effects-wise you have to understand that Teruyoshi Nakano was working at 1/3 to 1/2 the budget of what his mentor Tsuburaya had to work with, so in that respect his work is quite impressive. This film features a triumphant return of the city-stomp with a show-stopping sequence involving Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus laying waste to downtown Tokyo. Don't mind that they blow up the same row of buildings at least 4 times in a row - it's all great fun and showcases a lot of great pyrotechnics.
There's a lot of bizarre moments in the climactic monster-on-monster violence and a lot of iffy continuity. For instance, Godzilla knocks Titanosaurus out of the way and then tackles Mechagodzilla to the ground but in the very next shot, Godzilla is lying down alone and Titanosaurus is suddenly there kicking him in the head. (?) Most likely a case of bad editing more than anything.
Overall a worthy candidate for a way to spend a rainy afternoon. The 70's may have been a Godzilla nadir but this film is the highpoint of that lowpoint.
Mekagojira no gyakushu (1975)
Just as good as its predecessor, if not better. Last time we saw Godzilla teaming up to take down one monster. This time, he has to take down two, by himself. This is a great end to the original series, as it contains all the great elements. Awesome fights, which take us back to more inhabited areas. The country side had become a cheap alternative, but you can't beat city destruction. There is also a lot of heart, as we see a ridiculed scientist and his daughter struggle with their feelings. This film actually contains some human sacrifice. Making us and Godzilla equal again. Very impressed with something that could have been all a little much.
- SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain
- Dec 12, 2011
- Permalink
Much maligned Godzilla flick
As a longtime fan of Godzilla movies, I'm at a loss to explain why this film in particular is so hated. I loved this film as a child (perhaps I was already moving towards my love of tragedy), partly due to the coolness of the original Mechagodzilla, partly due to the fact I thought Titanosaurus was cool. There was also the part where I dug the little story of the mad scientist bent on his revenge for being laughed out of academia, and the whole love story angle between the scientist and the mad scientist's daughter. As you can see, there's a lot going on in this film, probably too much, but I enjoyed the attempt to have a more serious subplot going on in a Godzilla flick. The line from the horribly cut American version "But I can't love you, I'm a cyborg", is highlarious. Anyways, I finally tracked down a subtitled, uncut copy, and I was amazed to discover that the american distributors cut the scenes that explain a major character's sacrifice of her life-in the american version it just seems a senseless act. Anyways, don't expect much except a goofy star crossed lovers plot combined with a mad scientist plot and kaiju beating on one another and enjoy.
Fine end to the first series-the best 70s Godzilla film
It was obvious that the filmmakers were running out of inspiration by the time this entry was planned,and as well as tired plots and tiny budgets the films were doing less well at the box office. Of course,films like Godzilla V Gigan and Godzilla V Mechagodzilla were still fun if juvenile,but it was clear that the series was winding down and Godzilla needed a break,so a great deal of effort was put into this one,even to the point of getting Inoshiro Honda,the original and greatest Godzilla director,to return. Terror Of Mechagodzilla is uneven,but it's by far the best of the 70s Godzilla films.
The plot ONCE AGAIN rehashes the aliens-out-to-conquer-Earth-using-monsters plot,but at least here it is augmented by a few interesting elements,such as the tragic female cyborg who still retains human feelings,and it is handled a lot more seriously than before. Honda tones down the juvenile elements and even brings a touch of darkness to the film. The finale has most of the characters killed,and one person's sacrifice appropriately parallels Dr Serizawa's sacrifice in the original Godzilla {incidentally,the current version available in the US cuts so much of the violent and dark elements out that the ending makes little sense}.
Despite the general downbeat feel here is still plenty of monster action,with the best destruction sequence since Monster Zero,while Mechagodzilla is somewhat improved since the last film and Titanosaurus is a memorable new monster {why has he never returned?}. There is the odd shoddy moment,mainly due to the low budget,and signs of carelessness at times-for instance the final shot of Godzilla uses a different and pretty awful looking suit to the rest of the film. However overall this was the best Godzilla film since Destroy All Monsters,and a fairly worthy end to the 'Showa'series.
The plot ONCE AGAIN rehashes the aliens-out-to-conquer-Earth-using-monsters plot,but at least here it is augmented by a few interesting elements,such as the tragic female cyborg who still retains human feelings,and it is handled a lot more seriously than before. Honda tones down the juvenile elements and even brings a touch of darkness to the film. The finale has most of the characters killed,and one person's sacrifice appropriately parallels Dr Serizawa's sacrifice in the original Godzilla {incidentally,the current version available in the US cuts so much of the violent and dark elements out that the ending makes little sense}.
Despite the general downbeat feel here is still plenty of monster action,with the best destruction sequence since Monster Zero,while Mechagodzilla is somewhat improved since the last film and Titanosaurus is a memorable new monster {why has he never returned?}. There is the odd shoddy moment,mainly due to the low budget,and signs of carelessness at times-for instance the final shot of Godzilla uses a different and pretty awful looking suit to the rest of the film. However overall this was the best Godzilla film since Destroy All Monsters,and a fairly worthy end to the 'Showa'series.
"Terror of Mechagodzilla" - A Review
1975's "Terror of Mechagodzilla" is a direct follow-up to 1974's "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla."
"Terror of Mechagodzilla" was directed by the late great Ishiro Honda and co-stars the late great "Godzilla" series actor Akihiko Hirata (this would be the last "Godzilla" film the actor would appear in before his death from throat cancer in 1984) as a mad scientist named Dr. Mafune, who, years earlier, had discovered a giant dinosaur called Titanosaurus.
Titanosaurus is the first monster to appear in this movie, attacking an experimental submarine that was looking for the remains of Mechagodzilla, the evil cyborg monster that had met its demise at the hands of Godzilla in the previous film. The evil ape-like aliens the Simians have recruited Dr. Mafune and his daughter to help them rebuild Mechagodzilla in their plot to take over the world. They team up, and they use their monsters, Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus, both of which are now under the mental control of Dr. Mafune's now-cyborg daughter, to attack Japan. Godzilla soon appears on the scene to combat the two monsters and save the world.
"Terror of Mechagodzilla" is the last film of the Showa-Era series of "Godzilla" films and I can gladly say that this film was a great end to the series. One thing viewers will immediately notice is how dark this film is compared to its predecessor; apparently, Honda made a move to return the series to its dark, Atomic Age-inspired roots and it succeeds there. Still, however, a lot about this film crackles and is quite sensational and moves at a fast pace; there's even a poignant and tragic love story in there, too, and some James Bond-like spy intrigue (spy movies were quite popular at the time). One of the more outstanding qualities of the film is the ominous score by long-time "Godzilla" series composer Akira Ifukube. Ifukube's score is pretty dark and ominous, a total turn-around from Masaru Satoh's lush, beautiful, and exotic score from the previous "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla." A lot about "Terror of Mechagodzilla" simply makes it a fitting end to the Showa series of "Godzilla" films, despite its obvious flaws, because four main characters (Honda, Ifukube, producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, and Hirata) from the production of "Godzilla" (1954) are on-board to make sure that "Terror of Mechagodzilla" counts as a satisfying end to the Showa series.
Godzilla is and always will be the greatest movie monster that ever lived. I love Godzilla and his films. I've been watching them since I was a kid. Godzilla's transformation from rampaging menace in "Godzilla" (1954) to hero over the course of the films in the Showa series was inevitable, in my opinion, from the second that a sequel to the film was hastily commissioned by Toho in 1955 called "Godzilla Raids Again." And not to mention that the monster had become highly bankable as a children's icon over the years since his debut.
But his return to menace in "Godzilla 1985" (1984) was the first instance that Godzilla had not outlived his usefulness as cinema's greatest movie monster.
7/10
"Terror of Mechagodzilla" was directed by the late great Ishiro Honda and co-stars the late great "Godzilla" series actor Akihiko Hirata (this would be the last "Godzilla" film the actor would appear in before his death from throat cancer in 1984) as a mad scientist named Dr. Mafune, who, years earlier, had discovered a giant dinosaur called Titanosaurus.
Titanosaurus is the first monster to appear in this movie, attacking an experimental submarine that was looking for the remains of Mechagodzilla, the evil cyborg monster that had met its demise at the hands of Godzilla in the previous film. The evil ape-like aliens the Simians have recruited Dr. Mafune and his daughter to help them rebuild Mechagodzilla in their plot to take over the world. They team up, and they use their monsters, Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus, both of which are now under the mental control of Dr. Mafune's now-cyborg daughter, to attack Japan. Godzilla soon appears on the scene to combat the two monsters and save the world.
"Terror of Mechagodzilla" is the last film of the Showa-Era series of "Godzilla" films and I can gladly say that this film was a great end to the series. One thing viewers will immediately notice is how dark this film is compared to its predecessor; apparently, Honda made a move to return the series to its dark, Atomic Age-inspired roots and it succeeds there. Still, however, a lot about this film crackles and is quite sensational and moves at a fast pace; there's even a poignant and tragic love story in there, too, and some James Bond-like spy intrigue (spy movies were quite popular at the time). One of the more outstanding qualities of the film is the ominous score by long-time "Godzilla" series composer Akira Ifukube. Ifukube's score is pretty dark and ominous, a total turn-around from Masaru Satoh's lush, beautiful, and exotic score from the previous "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla." A lot about "Terror of Mechagodzilla" simply makes it a fitting end to the Showa series of "Godzilla" films, despite its obvious flaws, because four main characters (Honda, Ifukube, producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, and Hirata) from the production of "Godzilla" (1954) are on-board to make sure that "Terror of Mechagodzilla" counts as a satisfying end to the Showa series.
Godzilla is and always will be the greatest movie monster that ever lived. I love Godzilla and his films. I've been watching them since I was a kid. Godzilla's transformation from rampaging menace in "Godzilla" (1954) to hero over the course of the films in the Showa series was inevitable, in my opinion, from the second that a sequel to the film was hastily commissioned by Toho in 1955 called "Godzilla Raids Again." And not to mention that the monster had become highly bankable as a children's icon over the years since his debut.
But his return to menace in "Godzilla 1985" (1984) was the first instance that Godzilla had not outlived his usefulness as cinema's greatest movie monster.
7/10
We all know why it's good.
Terror of MechaGodzilla was pretty much just a way to profit off of Godzilla Vs. MechaGodzilla for a second time. However, we all know why this film is so well known to fans, and that's because of Titanosaurus (which is also the name of a real dinosaur that has no relation). Titanosaurus is a highly loved Monster from the Godzilla series, and to be honest I feel like this film would have worked out just fine if it was just Godzilla vs. Titanosaurus. The monster is humongous and beautifully made, no one could live up to a semi aquatic Kaiju like him. I mean yes, the movie itself is watchable but, it does tend to focus a bit too much on the humans in my opinion, which is a problem a lot of monster movies have. I love Titanosaurus though, He's the centerpiece for this film.
End of an Era.
- OllieSuave-007
- May 30, 2003
- Permalink
Just another entry in the long franchise of "Godzilla"...
This 1975 movie titled "The Terror of Mechagodzilla" wasn't exactly an outstanding chapter in the long, long "Godzilla" franchise. But still, I was given the chance to watch it, and since I hadn't already seen it, of course I took the time to sit down and watch it.
I wasn't particularly entertained though with what transpired on the screen. There was a whole lot of focus on the human story aspect of the movie, which was just boring. I don't sit down to watch the human drama in the "Godzilla" movies, no. I want to watch kaiju action, battles and destruction. And there wasn't enough of that going on in this movie.
You essentially know what you are getting with this 1975 movie from directors Ishirô Honda and Jun Fukuda. But then again, all these movies in the franchise seem to follow that particular same blueprint, now don't they?
"The Terror of Mechagodzilla" failed to make itself outstanding in the overwhelming amount of movies that already exist in the franchise. So it essentially just drowned in the masses and became just another movie added to the long list of movies to make the legacy of "Godzilla".
This is hardly a "Godzilla" movie that I will be returning to watch a second time around. And my rating of it lands on a very mediocre five out of ten stars.
I wasn't particularly entertained though with what transpired on the screen. There was a whole lot of focus on the human story aspect of the movie, which was just boring. I don't sit down to watch the human drama in the "Godzilla" movies, no. I want to watch kaiju action, battles and destruction. And there wasn't enough of that going on in this movie.
You essentially know what you are getting with this 1975 movie from directors Ishirô Honda and Jun Fukuda. But then again, all these movies in the franchise seem to follow that particular same blueprint, now don't they?
"The Terror of Mechagodzilla" failed to make itself outstanding in the overwhelming amount of movies that already exist in the franchise. So it essentially just drowned in the masses and became just another movie added to the long list of movies to make the legacy of "Godzilla".
This is hardly a "Godzilla" movie that I will be returning to watch a second time around. And my rating of it lands on a very mediocre five out of ten stars.
- paul_haakonsen
- Feb 3, 2020
- Permalink
Mechagodzilla Returns.
Terror of Mechagodzilla follows "Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla". It would be the last film from the original "Showa" series of Godzilla Films.
A submarine goes looking for the remains of Mechagodzilla. It is attacked by a giant dinosaur monster known as Titanosaurus. Later the Simians make a return to Earth and align with a scientist called Dr. Mafune. They bring Mechagodzilla up and repair him and also control Titanosaurus as well. Mafune's daughter Tetsura is killed, so the Simians insert a control for Mechagodzilla into her. Soon the Simians unleash Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus on Tokyo. Godzilla appears and appears to be the only thing that can save the Earth.
Mechagodzilla returns in this film. Definitely one of Godzilla's greatest foes, so it was no surprise that he appeared in another film with Godzilla. Mechagodzilla is a little different acting in this film in that he must wait for Tetsura to give commands. Also his fingers are longer and has revolving missiles added to his arsenal. Also if Mechagodzilla loses his head he has a smaller head underneath that fires a powerful beam of energy. Mechagodzilla can still function without his head in this film. He just can not function once Tetsura is destroyed.
Mechagodzilla is not by himself in this film. Titanosaurus assists him in battle with Tokyo and Godzilla. Titanosaurus is a bright red and yellow color and has a long neck and tail that becomes like a fan to create wind storms. Also he can jump far and is quite a formidable fighter. However Titanosaurus is not really an evil monster, he is just taken control of by Mafune and the Simians and forced to be evil. A really good monster that only shows up in this film, but I like that he is in it. In fact, Titanosaurus is the main monster in this film and is on screen more than Godzilla and Mechagodzilla.
Godzilla is not in this movie as much as he probably should be, he is over shadowed by both Titanosaurus and Mechagodzilla. This really is more of a Mechagodzilla film than a Godzilla film. But Godzilla does get his fair share of action towards the end. Godzilla has no help in this film, it is him against both Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus. That is pretty cool.
The monster action is pretty good in this film. Mechagodzilla gets to do some awesome destruction scenes on Japan. Godzillas fight with Mechagodzilla at the end of this film I think is a better overall fight because both monsters get to get in some action. It is not just one sided. There is no blood spilling all over the place in this one, I am not complaining just saying that I guess they thought that they went overboard in the last film.
FOr the most part I thought the acting was good in this film. The young man who is in love with Getsura really shows great emotion and the SImians and Dr. Mafune are good bad guys.
The story is great. It starts off with a search for Mechagodzilla's head. Then Titanosaurus appears and becomes the main focus for a while. Then Godzilla shows up and later Mechagodzilla comes back. Just a lot of good timing for monsters entering. A really well written and well acted film. This is one of the best and most under rated of the entire series.
The music is great. It is not the same score from Terror of Mechagodzilla, it is different and more darker sounding. I guess they made great music a priority in the films starring Mechagodzilla. THis is one of my favorite music scores from any Godzilla movie.
Complaint, well this will be tough. I guess one thing is that if you are watching this film to see Mechagodzilla you have to wait a long time to see him up and going. But that is really nitpicking.
One last thing, the Japanese Version has quite a few differences. FOr one when the Simians are turning Tetsura into a cyborg you can see her nude breasts, I think that is the only nudity in a Godzilla Film. Also the American Version completely botches the ending where Tetsura must make a vital decision in regards to saving herself or the planet. I do not want to give away too much.
A great film. If you liked Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla then you will love this one. Highly recommended.
A submarine goes looking for the remains of Mechagodzilla. It is attacked by a giant dinosaur monster known as Titanosaurus. Later the Simians make a return to Earth and align with a scientist called Dr. Mafune. They bring Mechagodzilla up and repair him and also control Titanosaurus as well. Mafune's daughter Tetsura is killed, so the Simians insert a control for Mechagodzilla into her. Soon the Simians unleash Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus on Tokyo. Godzilla appears and appears to be the only thing that can save the Earth.
Mechagodzilla returns in this film. Definitely one of Godzilla's greatest foes, so it was no surprise that he appeared in another film with Godzilla. Mechagodzilla is a little different acting in this film in that he must wait for Tetsura to give commands. Also his fingers are longer and has revolving missiles added to his arsenal. Also if Mechagodzilla loses his head he has a smaller head underneath that fires a powerful beam of energy. Mechagodzilla can still function without his head in this film. He just can not function once Tetsura is destroyed.
Mechagodzilla is not by himself in this film. Titanosaurus assists him in battle with Tokyo and Godzilla. Titanosaurus is a bright red and yellow color and has a long neck and tail that becomes like a fan to create wind storms. Also he can jump far and is quite a formidable fighter. However Titanosaurus is not really an evil monster, he is just taken control of by Mafune and the Simians and forced to be evil. A really good monster that only shows up in this film, but I like that he is in it. In fact, Titanosaurus is the main monster in this film and is on screen more than Godzilla and Mechagodzilla.
Godzilla is not in this movie as much as he probably should be, he is over shadowed by both Titanosaurus and Mechagodzilla. This really is more of a Mechagodzilla film than a Godzilla film. But Godzilla does get his fair share of action towards the end. Godzilla has no help in this film, it is him against both Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus. That is pretty cool.
The monster action is pretty good in this film. Mechagodzilla gets to do some awesome destruction scenes on Japan. Godzillas fight with Mechagodzilla at the end of this film I think is a better overall fight because both monsters get to get in some action. It is not just one sided. There is no blood spilling all over the place in this one, I am not complaining just saying that I guess they thought that they went overboard in the last film.
FOr the most part I thought the acting was good in this film. The young man who is in love with Getsura really shows great emotion and the SImians and Dr. Mafune are good bad guys.
The story is great. It starts off with a search for Mechagodzilla's head. Then Titanosaurus appears and becomes the main focus for a while. Then Godzilla shows up and later Mechagodzilla comes back. Just a lot of good timing for monsters entering. A really well written and well acted film. This is one of the best and most under rated of the entire series.
The music is great. It is not the same score from Terror of Mechagodzilla, it is different and more darker sounding. I guess they made great music a priority in the films starring Mechagodzilla. THis is one of my favorite music scores from any Godzilla movie.
Complaint, well this will be tough. I guess one thing is that if you are watching this film to see Mechagodzilla you have to wait a long time to see him up and going. But that is really nitpicking.
One last thing, the Japanese Version has quite a few differences. FOr one when the Simians are turning Tetsura into a cyborg you can see her nude breasts, I think that is the only nudity in a Godzilla Film. Also the American Version completely botches the ending where Tetsura must make a vital decision in regards to saving herself or the planet. I do not want to give away too much.
A great film. If you liked Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla then you will love this one. Highly recommended.
"Mechagodzilla's brain is installed in my stomach." Decent enough addition to the Godzilla series of films.
- poolandrews
- Sep 6, 2005
- Permalink
very average remake of the previous mecha movie
the darkest godzilla movie ever made
Terror of Mechagodzilla review
In the original Godzilla series, the monstrous city-stomping lizard confronted a space-aged robotic version of himself in Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla. This sequel picks up where that film left off, with humans tampering with Mechagodzilla's remains at the bottom of the ocean. Naturally it doesn't go very well.
At this point, things in the Godzilla franchise has ventured into some extremely campy and far-out sci-fi B-movie territory. Not only does this film feature Godzilla and Mechagodzilla duking it out, but there are also dinosaurs and aliens hailing from the third planet of some black hole. Yep, dinosaurs, mutant radioactive lizards, a giant mecha, and space aliens all inhabit the screen together. Come to think of it, there was a cyborg in the mix too, wasn't there? It makes for a rather convoluted and mixed viewing experience.
When it comes to the actual mass destruction, it's all shoved toward the end of the movie, feeling a bit short, and with very little that stands out. The rest of the film is focused on the drama (including huge heapings of people in war rooms and command centers, aliens scheming, and some kind of romantic subplot), which is not inherently bad, but it drags at spots and never really gives the film much momentum.
As mentioned above, the story can be a bit nutty, but it has its moments. The characters have a few standout moments (thanks largely to the love story that's thrown in), but a lot of them take the back seat to all the conspiracy surrounding the monsters.
This film is made with good, but never great, photography and editing. Acting and writing are generally not bad. This production has some very cheap and gaudy-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. The model work, monsters, and compositing/projection effects have not aged well, and look pretty bad. Music is okay.
Terror of Mechagodzilla struck me as a pretty cheesy B-movie, offering a mish-mash of numerous crazy ideas. Despite the clash of aliens, robots, and monsters, the film didn't really engage me that much, and it felt dull overall. Fans might dig it though.
3/5 (Entertainment: Average | Story: Average | Film: Average)
At this point, things in the Godzilla franchise has ventured into some extremely campy and far-out sci-fi B-movie territory. Not only does this film feature Godzilla and Mechagodzilla duking it out, but there are also dinosaurs and aliens hailing from the third planet of some black hole. Yep, dinosaurs, mutant radioactive lizards, a giant mecha, and space aliens all inhabit the screen together. Come to think of it, there was a cyborg in the mix too, wasn't there? It makes for a rather convoluted and mixed viewing experience.
When it comes to the actual mass destruction, it's all shoved toward the end of the movie, feeling a bit short, and with very little that stands out. The rest of the film is focused on the drama (including huge heapings of people in war rooms and command centers, aliens scheming, and some kind of romantic subplot), which is not inherently bad, but it drags at spots and never really gives the film much momentum.
As mentioned above, the story can be a bit nutty, but it has its moments. The characters have a few standout moments (thanks largely to the love story that's thrown in), but a lot of them take the back seat to all the conspiracy surrounding the monsters.
This film is made with good, but never great, photography and editing. Acting and writing are generally not bad. This production has some very cheap and gaudy-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. The model work, monsters, and compositing/projection effects have not aged well, and look pretty bad. Music is okay.
Terror of Mechagodzilla struck me as a pretty cheesy B-movie, offering a mish-mash of numerous crazy ideas. Despite the clash of aliens, robots, and monsters, the film didn't really engage me that much, and it felt dull overall. Fans might dig it though.
3/5 (Entertainment: Average | Story: Average | Film: Average)
- Al_The_Strange
- Dec 28, 2013
- Permalink
Farewell Godzilla
15th and final Godzilla film in the first series from Toho studios sees(ho-hum!) another group of alien invaders reclaim and rebuild what's left of MechaGodzilla, in one last desperate attempt to conquer the Earth by destroying Godzilla. Meanwhile, a traitorous Earth scientist has been in league with them, and programmed a new sea monster called Titanosaurus to help them in that goal. Can the Earth be saved from alien conquest once and for all? Uninspired to say the least, though Titanosaurus is an effective creation, and the tone unusually grim, which may not have appealed to children. Best thing about it is the fitting final fade-out of a departing Godzilla.
- AaronCapenBanner
- May 1, 2014
- Permalink
Terror of Mechagodzilla
Things did not bode well at the start, with a seven-minute greatest hits sequence that never seemed to end, but by the time it was over I found myself grateful for so much action so early on. When the story proper started it was with some very impressive underwater model work (I couldn't see the seams at any rate).
But what really marked this out as a superior entry is the plot. A reclusive discredited scientist is employed by aliens to use his thought-controlled pet Titanosaurus to destroy Tokyo along with the newly-rebuilt Mechagodzilla, their combined might certain to overcome that pesky Godzilla. Meanwhile an Interpol agent and a marine scientist investigate the disappearance of an exploratory submarine, the trail leading them to the scientist's beautiful but non-too-helpful daughter.
It might sound like the usual gubbins on paper but there's genuine tension in many of the scenes, it's logical and exciting, and rather than feeling like drawn-out filler while we wait for the real action to begin it's successful on its own terms, even managing to pull off genuine pathos bordering on tragedy at the end.
When it does begin it's hands down the best destruction I've seen so far in the series. They're right in the centre of Tokyo surrounded by skyscrapers ready to be demolished and incinerated. The camera pans across the cityscape as whole swathes of it are destroyed, and it truly is spectacular. What makes it even more powerful is that it's not a fight sequence for the most part - it's just two big boys laying waste to the city.
Godzilla himself is given a wonderful entrance, and in those moments it's a thrill to see this (of all films) so overtly referencing The Third Man (of all films).
They do escape to the country for the final showdown, but there's still the odd power station to be sat on and let's face it, we've already had our money's worth with the destruction of Tokyo. The fight is lengthy too, with Godzilla on the back foot for most of it, and while we're never unsure of the outcome it does get pretty hairy for the big guy.
For the budget the special effects are often superb and always imaginative (like the alien technician walking inside Mechagodzilla's head or the shot that takes us from his massive, dormant frame as he's being worked on, through a window, and finishes with the aliens and doctor watching the progress from a lab).
The music throughout is excellent, and the female lead is impossibly gorgeous.
What's not to love?
But what really marked this out as a superior entry is the plot. A reclusive discredited scientist is employed by aliens to use his thought-controlled pet Titanosaurus to destroy Tokyo along with the newly-rebuilt Mechagodzilla, their combined might certain to overcome that pesky Godzilla. Meanwhile an Interpol agent and a marine scientist investigate the disappearance of an exploratory submarine, the trail leading them to the scientist's beautiful but non-too-helpful daughter.
It might sound like the usual gubbins on paper but there's genuine tension in many of the scenes, it's logical and exciting, and rather than feeling like drawn-out filler while we wait for the real action to begin it's successful on its own terms, even managing to pull off genuine pathos bordering on tragedy at the end.
When it does begin it's hands down the best destruction I've seen so far in the series. They're right in the centre of Tokyo surrounded by skyscrapers ready to be demolished and incinerated. The camera pans across the cityscape as whole swathes of it are destroyed, and it truly is spectacular. What makes it even more powerful is that it's not a fight sequence for the most part - it's just two big boys laying waste to the city.
Godzilla himself is given a wonderful entrance, and in those moments it's a thrill to see this (of all films) so overtly referencing The Third Man (of all films).
They do escape to the country for the final showdown, but there's still the odd power station to be sat on and let's face it, we've already had our money's worth with the destruction of Tokyo. The fight is lengthy too, with Godzilla on the back foot for most of it, and while we're never unsure of the outcome it does get pretty hairy for the big guy.
For the budget the special effects are often superb and always imaginative (like the alien technician walking inside Mechagodzilla's head or the shot that takes us from his massive, dormant frame as he's being worked on, through a window, and finishes with the aliens and doctor watching the progress from a lab).
The music throughout is excellent, and the female lead is impossibly gorgeous.
What's not to love?
- I_John_Barrymore_I
- Jun 25, 2008
- Permalink
Entertaining Entry In The Goji Canon
A darker Showa era film that is a bit of a letdown as a follow-up to the classic first MechaGoji film.
Still an entertaining film that is required viewing for fans of the series and fans of MechaGoji.
Another evil aliens plot this time around but it is rather nicely put together.
An entertaining Goji movie all things considered.
6 Cyborgs out of 10!
An entertaining Goji movie all things considered.
6 Cyborgs out of 10!
- coconutkungfu-30704
- Feb 16, 2020
- Permalink
Pretty underrated movie!
I love how they had mechagodzilla have a new look I prefer this design more than the 1974 design even if this is a 7/10 film I think this is a great movie
I wish this was longer so we could see more Kaiju action!
We need more films like this I love this film
Fun fact: this was the last Godzilla film of the Showa era! The ending was meah but the beginning was good.
Sadly we will never see this version of Godzilla again😔😔😔 but in 1984 a reboot was released called the return of Godzilla which the name doesn't make sense because this is a new Godzilla but toho wanted people to think this is a sequel to Godzilla(1954) even if it is technically a sequel ignoring the sequels Overall terror of mechagodzilla is a great film we need more like this.
We need more films like this I love this film
Fun fact: this was the last Godzilla film of the Showa era! The ending was meah but the beginning was good.
Sadly we will never see this version of Godzilla again😔😔😔 but in 1984 a reboot was released called the return of Godzilla which the name doesn't make sense because this is a new Godzilla but toho wanted people to think this is a sequel to Godzilla(1954) even if it is technically a sequel ignoring the sequels Overall terror of mechagodzilla is a great film we need more like this.
A Bittersweet Farewel
Terror of MechaGodzilla, the final installment in the original Godzilla series, is a fairly standard entry in the giant monsters genre. This time around, the aliens from the last movie are at it again. They've salvaged the remains of MechaGodzilla and rebuilt it stronger than ever. They're aided in their quest by Dr. Mafune, your standard mad-scientist-who-was-ostracized-for-his-weird-theories-and-now-wants-revenge-on-the-human-race. It just so happens that his strange experiments have given him control over the aquatic dinosaur Titanosaurus.
Between these two, even Godzilla might be in trouble. But fortunately for Earth, Interpol agents and marine scientists investigating the destruction of a research submarine begin to unravel their plans. And I don't think I giving away much by saying that Godzilla faces off against the bad guys and ultimately prevails.
So much for the story. As for the movie itself, it's something of a mixed bag. The acting is alright, if somewhat overly broad most of the time, but in some scenes, like the flashback to a lab accident, it's strangely bad, as if they didn't have time to do a re-take. There are also plot points that are poorly explained, and the dialogue seems a bit off, although that may just be because I was watching it in Japanese with subtitles.
On the other hand, it's a great improvement over some of its predecessors, like Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster and vs. Megalon. The model work is well done, and the other effects are pretty good for the time. And the final showdown of Godzilla and the military against MechaGodzilla and Titanosaurus is one of the best in the series. The suit actors get really physical, and at one point Godzilla is almost buried under debris, only to burst forth dramatically.
The average viewer probably won't get a lot out of this one, but kids will like it, and it's worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre, or Japanese movies in general.
Between these two, even Godzilla might be in trouble. But fortunately for Earth, Interpol agents and marine scientists investigating the destruction of a research submarine begin to unravel their plans. And I don't think I giving away much by saying that Godzilla faces off against the bad guys and ultimately prevails.
So much for the story. As for the movie itself, it's something of a mixed bag. The acting is alright, if somewhat overly broad most of the time, but in some scenes, like the flashback to a lab accident, it's strangely bad, as if they didn't have time to do a re-take. There are also plot points that are poorly explained, and the dialogue seems a bit off, although that may just be because I was watching it in Japanese with subtitles.
On the other hand, it's a great improvement over some of its predecessors, like Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster and vs. Megalon. The model work is well done, and the other effects are pretty good for the time. And the final showdown of Godzilla and the military against MechaGodzilla and Titanosaurus is one of the best in the series. The suit actors get really physical, and at one point Godzilla is almost buried under debris, only to burst forth dramatically.
The average viewer probably won't get a lot out of this one, but kids will like it, and it's worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre, or Japanese movies in general.
- williampsamuel
- Mar 17, 2019
- Permalink
Terrible movie
Since the original "Godzila vs. Mechagodzilla" was a rather good movie, I guess this was just an attempt to cash in on the whole Mechagodzilla-appearance. Unfortunately, this is just a bad version of the "original". The plot is nearly the same, not just as Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla", but as most of the previous Godzilla-movies. I have to say that I'm getting really tired of the "spacemen want to conquer Earth with a monster and Godzilla comes to the rescue"-plot. Time to come up with some new ideas, people (and later they did, sort of). Also on the wrongside: Godzilla isn't nearly in this movie at all. He's only in some scenes at the end of the movie, making this a really boring experience. The special effects are really bad, and they didn't avoid stock footage in this movie either. Stay away.
Better than you'd think
Following on from the perky Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla, Terror of Mechagodzilla is a very different movie in tone, possibly because series founder Ishiro Honda is directing. The story (about a beautiful female cyborg helping alien forces control the Earth by destroying it with monsters Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus) is perhaps more credible than you'd expect, given the superior level of acting on show from the cast. Naturally, the film really excels with the creatures and Akira Ifukube's doom-laden score. If more Godzilla movies were similar to this then perhaps the series would face less ridicule. Or maybe not. Still good though. 8/10
Godzilla's final bout before hibernation sees original director Ishiro Honda attempt to bring back some of the thematic weight with mixed results
In the aftermath of Godzilla's defeat of Mechagodzilla, the Ocean Exploitation Institute (OEI) sends an experimental sub to look for the wreckage. When the sub is destroyed with the only clue being the last transmission mentioning the word "dinosaur", scientist Ichinose (Katsuhiko Sasaki) and INTERPOL agent Murakoshi (Katsumasa Uchida) investigate which brings them to Katsura Mafune (Tomoko Ai) the daughter of the supposedly dead scientist Dr. Shinzo Mafune (Akihiko Hirata) whose theories about dinosaurs saw him laughed out of academia. Unbeknownst to the world, Dr. Mafune is alive and collaborating with the original builders of Mechagodzilla with his daughter a key and reluctant part of Mafune's revenge on mankind.
After Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla proved a decent draw with audiences (a far cry from the heights of the series but an improvement from the prior two) a sequel was commissioned that would feature the return of Mechagodzilla. The script by Yukiko Takayama was based on a concept that was the winner of a contest held by Toho for potential Godzilla concepts, and based on the reception Takayama became the first woman screenwriter to write a Godzilla film. While producers hadn't considered returning to series director Ishiro Honda whose contract with Toho had long since lapsed, Takayama was an integral part in encouraging his return with Honda all too happy to do so appreciating a woman's perspective on the series. Terror of Mechagodzilla received mixed reviews from critics and also became the least attended Godzilla film (with the entire tokusatsu/kaiju style as a whole seeing a decline) and Godzilla would mostly become dormant for the next decade barring licensing exceptions like the Marvel comic book or Hanna-Barbera cartoon series. Terror of Mechagodzilla is mostly on the same level of enjoyable as its predecessor, even if its thematic reach exceeds its grasp.
Ishiro Honda adds a surprising amount of weight and gravity to this entry of the series with Godzilla largely absent until the 50 minute mark, and when Godzilla does arrive Honda actually manages to make his arrival have pretty substantial impact thanks to some unique staging and lighting. While Terror of Mechagodzilla doesn't play at the same scale as its predecessor most of the time with much of the action relegated to the third act and Titanosaurus taking up the majority of the first and second acts, you can tell Honda is trying to add back that element of dramatic weight that had largely been absent from this series for the past decade. This is particularly true of Katsura Mafune played by Tomoko Ai who's the tragic heroine of the film who holds a dark secret thanks to her father's corrupting anger and lust for vengeance that has made her an unwilling participant in what's transpiring. With that said however, Terror of Mechagodzilla does have many issues that keep it from greatness. As with the predecessor, the Black Hole Aliens (or spacemen) are about as generic as you can get with these kinds of antagonists and with them being goofy relics from later era Showa installments like Monster Zero and Destroy All Monsters it feels at odds with the heavier dramatic themes. Similar issues arise with our characters beyond Katsura with our leads of Ichinose and Murakoshi being bland and uninteresting, and the romance between Ichinose and Katsura is lacking in passion or much reason to care.
As a send off (which it was never intended to be) Terror of Mechagodzilla gives the Big G another round with a worthy foe along with an adequate foe before sending him into the sunset. It doesn't reach the heights of the series, but it's way above plumbing the depths.
After Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla proved a decent draw with audiences (a far cry from the heights of the series but an improvement from the prior two) a sequel was commissioned that would feature the return of Mechagodzilla. The script by Yukiko Takayama was based on a concept that was the winner of a contest held by Toho for potential Godzilla concepts, and based on the reception Takayama became the first woman screenwriter to write a Godzilla film. While producers hadn't considered returning to series director Ishiro Honda whose contract with Toho had long since lapsed, Takayama was an integral part in encouraging his return with Honda all too happy to do so appreciating a woman's perspective on the series. Terror of Mechagodzilla received mixed reviews from critics and also became the least attended Godzilla film (with the entire tokusatsu/kaiju style as a whole seeing a decline) and Godzilla would mostly become dormant for the next decade barring licensing exceptions like the Marvel comic book or Hanna-Barbera cartoon series. Terror of Mechagodzilla is mostly on the same level of enjoyable as its predecessor, even if its thematic reach exceeds its grasp.
Ishiro Honda adds a surprising amount of weight and gravity to this entry of the series with Godzilla largely absent until the 50 minute mark, and when Godzilla does arrive Honda actually manages to make his arrival have pretty substantial impact thanks to some unique staging and lighting. While Terror of Mechagodzilla doesn't play at the same scale as its predecessor most of the time with much of the action relegated to the third act and Titanosaurus taking up the majority of the first and second acts, you can tell Honda is trying to add back that element of dramatic weight that had largely been absent from this series for the past decade. This is particularly true of Katsura Mafune played by Tomoko Ai who's the tragic heroine of the film who holds a dark secret thanks to her father's corrupting anger and lust for vengeance that has made her an unwilling participant in what's transpiring. With that said however, Terror of Mechagodzilla does have many issues that keep it from greatness. As with the predecessor, the Black Hole Aliens (or spacemen) are about as generic as you can get with these kinds of antagonists and with them being goofy relics from later era Showa installments like Monster Zero and Destroy All Monsters it feels at odds with the heavier dramatic themes. Similar issues arise with our characters beyond Katsura with our leads of Ichinose and Murakoshi being bland and uninteresting, and the romance between Ichinose and Katsura is lacking in passion or much reason to care.
As a send off (which it was never intended to be) Terror of Mechagodzilla gives the Big G another round with a worthy foe along with an adequate foe before sending him into the sunset. It doesn't reach the heights of the series, but it's way above plumbing the depths.
- IonicBreezeMachine
- Feb 2, 2024
- Permalink
So confusing.
I was trying to watch all the Godzilla movies in order but somehow I messed up and just got to this one.It starts off with a twelve minute explanation of the origin of Godzilla.It was fairly accurate except for claiming that Godzilla was only a good guy in the first Mechagodzilla movie.Anway, I like to think that a lot was lost in the translation. I hate to think that people who had the ability to make movies thought this was a good story.So aliens have come to Earth again(surprise!) and they have managed to reconstruct Mechagodzilla.Again there's a guy who looks like Colonel Sanders and at this point I can't even remember which other movie he was in but I'm pretty sure it wasn't the first Mechagodzilla.So Colonel Sanders' daughter keeps dying and the aliens keep bringing her back to life by making her a robot.She wants to help the good guys but the aliens end up putting the controller for Mechagodzilla inside her.And there's another monster.That's really all I understood.Plus there were the usual boring monster fights, which have become almost unbearable.Another Godzilla mess.
only the monsters inherit the earth
The currently available English-dub print of this film is a frightfully hash-re-edit from UPA, released to TV syndication in 1978. I hope this is not the best surviving print of the film, but it very well may be. It is transferred in grainy pan-and-scan, and there are obvious bits and pieces missing from it - it is certainly possible to follow the story, but not always possible to follow the action. For instance, there's a moment towards the end when Godzilla is knocked over by a blast of Mechagodzilla's light ray; then suddenly, he's up and swinging, and Mecha-G is sparking from a short-circuit - what happened? We may never know.
Quality of surviving prints aside, this is Ishiro Honda's final attempt to remind Godzilla-fans what the series was originally intended to be about. The opening soundtrack is amazing - it begins with a martial snare tattoo; then Akira Ifukube introduces the darkest, most menacing Godzilla music he ever composed - it's really a shame that his "Mechagodzilla theme" was never re-introduced to the later revival-Godzilla films of the 1990s. It is brooding and downright scary without any images - but it enhances some of the stark images of the film very well.
These images include the most frightening moment of Tokyo-destruction ever seen in a Godzilla film, when Mecha-G and Titanosaurus march on the Japanese capitol with a sadistic joy rarely exhibited by rubber monsters from Toho. Although the scene is relatively brief, it leaves a huge impact - The cinematography captures the essence of US military documentary footage of experimental nuclear bomb tests - truly frightening. Also, there are some quirky back-screen shots of the monsters wading through the city that manage to capture how insignificant their human victims are to such gigantic creatures - the over-all effect proves to be every bit as scary as Honda must have wished.
The opening martial tattoo on the snare tells us what this film is really about - it is a puppet-show metaphor for war, in all its hideously dehumanizing violence.
Towards the end, a scientist holds in his arms the dying form of the woman with whom he fell in love, robotized and short-circuited like the Mecha-G. she was used to control, and reassures her(it): "...even if you're a cyborg, I still love you; none of this is your fault - you aren't to blame.' The epitaph of a good chunk of the 20th Century - thank god it's over. The only weird thing is, we survived.
Or, perhaps we didn't; it is Godzilla who wades through this film unscathed. Perhaps only the monsters inherit the earth.
Quality of surviving prints aside, this is Ishiro Honda's final attempt to remind Godzilla-fans what the series was originally intended to be about. The opening soundtrack is amazing - it begins with a martial snare tattoo; then Akira Ifukube introduces the darkest, most menacing Godzilla music he ever composed - it's really a shame that his "Mechagodzilla theme" was never re-introduced to the later revival-Godzilla films of the 1990s. It is brooding and downright scary without any images - but it enhances some of the stark images of the film very well.
These images include the most frightening moment of Tokyo-destruction ever seen in a Godzilla film, when Mecha-G and Titanosaurus march on the Japanese capitol with a sadistic joy rarely exhibited by rubber monsters from Toho. Although the scene is relatively brief, it leaves a huge impact - The cinematography captures the essence of US military documentary footage of experimental nuclear bomb tests - truly frightening. Also, there are some quirky back-screen shots of the monsters wading through the city that manage to capture how insignificant their human victims are to such gigantic creatures - the over-all effect proves to be every bit as scary as Honda must have wished.
The opening martial tattoo on the snare tells us what this film is really about - it is a puppet-show metaphor for war, in all its hideously dehumanizing violence.
Towards the end, a scientist holds in his arms the dying form of the woman with whom he fell in love, robotized and short-circuited like the Mecha-G. she was used to control, and reassures her(it): "...even if you're a cyborg, I still love you; none of this is your fault - you aren't to blame.' The epitaph of a good chunk of the 20th Century - thank god it's over. The only weird thing is, we survived.
Or, perhaps we didn't; it is Godzilla who wades through this film unscathed. Perhaps only the monsters inherit the earth.
The gorilla-like alien return with Mechagodzilla to destroy Japan once again
Sequel to Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla has the gorilla-like aliens return, who are shown primarily in their human form, once again trying to destroy Japan with their giant mechanical version of Godzilla. But wait! If the return of Mechagodzilla wasn't bad enough, the aliens also unleash Titanosaurus, thanks to a traitorous human scientist. This was the final film directed by Ishirô Honda, who directed the more high minded first film, and this was the also the final film in the original run of Godzilla films where he was the hero (he'd later be portrayed as a hero once again in "Godzilla: Final Wars," which in my opinion is the best of all the Godzilla sequels). But back to "Terror of Mechagodzilla," this is a film clearly aimed at children, but as a fan of Japanese Kaiju movies, I was entertained by this corny rubber suited nonsense.
its a fine attempt to make Godzilla a more serious thing again
They failed but it was still a good attempt, it also has Titanosaurus and was a fitting end to the showa series of Godzilla films