Review: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla/Godzilla vs. The Cosmic Monster

Ape-like aliens attempt to conquer the Earth through the use of a robot replica of Godzilla. The real Godzilla is called upon to protect Japan, along with ancient monster guardian King Seesar (Also known as Kingseesar or King Caesar).

I was slightly underwhelmed by this initial showing for Mechagodzilla from 1974 when I first saw it about 15-20 years ago. Seeing it again in 2019, I must say I like it slightly less than I already did. It’s watchable, but director Jun Fukuda (“Godzilla vs. Ebirah”, “Son of Godzilla”, “Godzilla vs. Gigan”) and co-writer Hiroyasai Yamamura (something called “Tokyo Blackout”) do the monsters/robots a massive disservice, and therefore, in my opinion, myself a disservice as well. If you don’t want monsters in your “Godzilla” film this is the movie for you. You’re kind of an idiot, though because it’s a “Godzilla” movie. The titular Mechagodzilla is barely in the film, Godzilla and Anguirus barely more than that, and King Caesar (who looks like a giant Pekingese and is mythologically just a Mothra rip-off) only makes a late cameo at best. Seriously, for all the build up and it barely makes a cameo and does bugger-all. That’s a shame, because when we do get monster action, it’s mostly great stuff. The explosive opener is pretty good, but it’s a real problem that Godzilla only turns up after 17 minutes in an 80 minute movie.

I also have to rake cinematographer Yuzuru Aizawa (“Godzilla vs. Megalon”) over the coals for some of the shoddiest hand-held camerawork I’ve ever seen. Speaking of shoddy, the English subtitling on the DVD I have legitimately features this line of dialogue: ‘The bowl’s metal contains a ???’. Seriously, that’s what it says. WTF? Getting back to the cinematography, on the plus side the use of camera angles on Godzilla makes him look absolutely massive and imposing. There’s a truly awesome shot of a smoky Godzilla fucking shit up with its yellow breath and all the buildings surrounding ablaze. Of course, being that Godzilla emits a blue flame, it turns out to be Mechagodzilla instead. Oh man, Mechagodzilla is awesome. I don’t love this film, but I do love Mechagodzilla and the rainbow rays it shoots from its eyes. How cool is that? Although he’s normally an ally of the big green lizard, Anguirus is playing for the other side in this one…and comes off all the worse for it. Seriously, Godzilla kicks the ever-lovin’ shit out of Anguirus in this one, and it’s fun to watch. At one point, Godzilla rips Anguirus’ jaw apart and pulls out its heart! It’s pretty bloody stuff, and makes you wish there was a lot more action than there is. The finale is explosive fun, but it’s too late because there’s just not been enough emphasis on it throughout. Instead we get more emphasis on dull lead characters and a plot that while composed of interesting pieces in theory, is not well put together by the director and screenwriters. It’s a pretty sloppy film at times, to be honest. The performances by eyepatch-less Akihiko Hirata (acting like a Japanese Peter Cushing) and a rather detached Goro Mutsumi as the alien Supreme Leader are excellent, but the leads are a bit dull.

The first but sadly not best “Mechagodzilla” film, this one just doesn’t have enough of the monster goods to be much of anything, really. There are moments that are fun, but not enough of them. It’s disjointed, underdone and oh-so frustrating!

Rating: C+