Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (Gojira tai Megagirasu: Jî shômetsu sakusen) (2000) |
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General | Extras | ||
Category | Science Fiction |
Theatrical Trailer Trailer-Eastern Eye Trailers x 7 |
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Rating | |||
Year Of Production | 2000 | ||
Running Time | 106:01 | ||
RSDL / Flipper | Dual Layered | Cast & Crew | |
Start Up | Menu | ||
Region Coding | 4 | Directed By | Masâki Tezuka |
Studio
Distributor |
Toho Company Madman Entertainment |
Starring |
Misato Tanaka Shosuke Tanihara Masatô Ibu Yuriko Hoshi Toshiyuki Nagashima Tsutomu Kitagawa Minoru Watanabe |
Case | Amaray-Transparent-Dual | ||
RPI | ? | Music |
Akira Ifukube Michiru Oshima Shinichi Fushima |
Video | Audio | ||
Pan & Scan/Full Frame | None |
Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) |
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Widescreen Aspect Ratio | 2.35:1 | ||
16x9 Enhancement |
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Video Format | 576i (PAL) | ||
Original Aspect Ratio | 2.35:1 | Miscellaneous | |
Jacket Pictures | No | ||
Subtitles | English | Smoking | Yes |
Annoying Product Placement | No | ||
Action In or After Credits | Yes, after the end credits |
When Godzilla devastates Tokyo a number of times, the capital of Japan moves to Osaka. It seems that Godzilla was coming ashore in Japan seeking energy, specifically nuclear energy, so the Japanese nuclear power plants are shut by the government and a special department set up in Osaka to investigate and develop green energy sources. One invention is electricity generated from plasma. But it seems that Godzilla is also drawn by this kind of energy source and in 1996 the monster attacked Osaka, destroying the city while brushing aside a squad of Rangers and killing their officer.
Five years after that attack a special team, led by Kiriko Tsujimori (Misato Tanaka), who had been one of the Rangers defeated by Godzilla, has been set up to kill the beast. She wants revenge for the death of her superior officer and a number of special weapons have been developed, including a fighter plane called the Griffon and an anti-matter device called the Dimension Tide which, when activated, will create a black hole into which Godzilla will be sucked. Recruited to the project team is Hajime Kudo (Shosuke Tanihara) a computer and miniature electronics expert. The first test firing of the Dimension Tide seemed to go well but, unknown to the scientists, it created a vortex which sucked into Japan a Meganula, a large dragonfly type creature that had been extinct for 300 million years. The Meganula then lays a cluster of eggs from which hatch a horde of creatures. Even worse, in the waters under Tokyo a “queen bee” Meganula has been created, the deadly and voracious Megaguirus. And, just to compound things, Godzilla is again headed for Tokyo for a massive battle against both humans and the Megaguirus.
Godzilla vs Megaguirus (Japanese title Gojira tai Megagirasu: Ji shometsu sakusen) is great fun. The film was directed by Masaaki Tezuka; this is his first involvement in a Godzilla film and, indeed, his first film as a director although he had been an assistant director on some impressive films with director Kon Ichikawa such as The Burmese Harp (1985) and 47 Ronin (1994). Godzilla vs Megaguirus was written by Hiroshi Kashiwabara and Wataru Mimura, the former having been writer on the earlier Gojira vs Supesugojira (1994) and the first Godzilla film in this series Gojira Millennium (1999). Perhaps as a result of this relative past Godzilla involvement most of the Godzilla lore and timeframes established over 27 films or so is discarded, although some things typically Godzilla remain: the plotting in Godzilla vs Megaguirus is ordinary, the acting unconvincing and the dialogue silly, so it is just as well these are not why one watches a Godzilla film!
In contrast, the creature action in Godzilla vs Megaguirus is good fun. The visual effects are due to special effects director Kenji Suzuki; this is his second, and last, Godzilla film and the sequences make use of traditional methods, such as a man in a suit, models and back projection, with only a little CGI enhancement. The action and effects as a result come across looking quite quaint, with toy cars, plastic aircraft and model buildings all being trashed. Other than Godzilla, the monsters are also mostly models, and indeed around 68:47 the wires holding up Megaguirus are plainly visible. But this does not detract from the fun to be had; rather it enhances the notion that what we are watching is a cartoon (or cardboard cut-out) monster movie on a fraction of the budget that would have been available in Hollywood. Some of the scenes, such as Godzilla swatting at the horde of giant dragonfly Meganulas, are different, while the fight between the monsters at the end, trashing buildings and making a mess in a welter of thuds and pyrotechnics, is very entertaining.
The original Godzilla in 1954 contained a very strong anti-nuclear message, something that most of the rest of the series seriously diluted. There is a hint of this message in Godzilla vs Megaguirus but mostly the film is good clean fun. The acting and plotting are indifferent, but the film has enough explosions, creature fights and destruction of buildings to satisfy most fans.
Godzilla vs Megaguirus is presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, the original theatrical ratio, and is 16x9 enhanced.
While the close-ups of monsters, faces and the satellite in space are sharp, the exterior footage and back projection scenes were quite soft. Colours were natural although muted, although the pyrotechnics were bright enough. Blacks and shadow detail were fine, brightness, contrast and skin tones good.
The print showed a fair amount of grain, some aliasing on blinds, the odd fleck and some noise reduction in the darker scenes.
English subtitles in a yellow font are available. They have no obvious spelling or grammatical errors.
The video is reasonable.
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Audio is a choice between Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 or English Dolby Digital 5.1, both at 448 Kbps.
I listened to the Japanese audio and sampled the English. Effects in both were similar, while the Japanese dialogue seemed to have more depth. The US English voice acting, in fact, sounded as unconvincing as usual.
Dialogue was clear and had separation and reasonable clarity. The surrounds are used frequently for music and Foley, including the occasional panning for weapons and effects. The sub-woofer gave good support to the music, the explosions, the destruction of buildings, the Dimension Tide and the thump and rumble of Godzilla’s feet.
The score was by experienced composer Michiru Ohshima, although this is his first Godzilla film score. It is suitably martial and dramatic, but often seemed very loud in the mix especially during monster action, drowning out the effects.
Lip synchronisation was good in the Japanese audio track, approximate in the English dub.
The audio has a good enveloping feel that supports the onscreen action.
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These trailers are divided into two sections. Live action trailers are Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla (0:45), Godzilla (2:50), Seven Samurai (3:56) and Throne of Blood (3:44). Anime trailers are Ghibli Collection (3:12), Chrono Crusade (1:52) and Astroboy (0:30).
NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.
There are stand-alone versions of Godzilla vs Megaguirus in Region 2 Japan (but with no English subtitles), Region 3 Hong Kong and Region 1 US; the latter two have no extras listed. The Region 4 stand-alone version is no longer to be available.
While there have been various box sets of Godzilla films released in Region 1, there is no equivalent of our Region 4 Madman complete “Millennium Series” collection elsewhere as most box sets include a mix of films from the various Godzilla series. This Region 4 box set is the pick for English speakers.
Godzilla returns to devastate Japanese cities and fight a new adversary, a huge dragonfly type monster, in Godzilla vs Megaguirus. This film, the second in the rebooted Godzilla Millennium series, is good clean fun, with enough explosions, creature fights and destruction of buildings to satisfy most fans.
The print has reasonable video and good audio; trailers are the only extras.
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus is included in the Madman 6 disc box set Godzilla Millennium Series along with Godzilla 2000 (1999), Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (III) (2002), Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003) and Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). The box set for a RRP of $39.95 is a fabulous way to stay in touch with “the original monster of mass destruction” almost 50 years after his first appearance.
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Review Equipment | |
DVD | Sony BDP-S580, using HDMI output |
Display | LG 55inch HD LCD. This display device has not been calibrated. This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 1080p. |
Audio Decoder | NAD T737. This audio decoder/receiver has not been calibrated. |
Amplification | NAD T737 |
Speakers | Studio Acoustics 5.1 |