Part of my series of reviews of the Heisei era Godzilla movies. Spoilers within, but we’re talking 90’s Godzilla movies here.

Spoiler alert: Godzilla dies. Again.

Following more or less the format of vs Mechagodzilla, this one gets right into the action and the story. The opening scene is the best of the series: welcome to the movie, Godzilla is here and he’s on fire and pissed. The whole meltdown Godzilla look is great and the big guy seems to be both enraged and suffering here and it works.

Every aspect of this movie works and works well together. The humans aren’t the most engaging of the series, but they get the job done and I like the connection to the original movie and characters. Godzilla Jr. is un-chibi-fied and his role in this story feels much more like a direct continuation of the character’s “arc” from vs Mechagodzilla. In fact, in a lot of ways this movie feels like the direct sequel to vs Mechagodzilla that “could have been.” vs SpaceGodzilla (the movie) could be erased from the series and the two around it would flow very well into one another. (But I would be sad.)

Destoroyah is not my favorite enemy kaiju but it is up there. My only problem is not so much with the look but with how stiff he/they are in some scenes. The human-sized, earlier forms are a great design and, when the director takes advantage of horror movie-style framing and cinematography, the lack of movement is hidden well. But sometimes in wide shots they are just suits on wheels and it takes you out of the moment. Similarly, the “perfect form” looks amazing but its massive size doesn’t always come off as imposing and godlike but instead bulky and stiff. Still, I always love seeing a baddie tower above Godzilla.

The ending fight is great and the effect of Godzilla’s death is haunting, and has an amazing score accompanying it. I love how Junior is resurrected and takes on the mantle. Tokyo is destroyed and saved all at once by Godzilla and his legacy, and I think that was an incredibly appropriate way to end this movie and this series.

One of the best Godzilla movies, in the series and the franchise.

Rating: 4/5
Watched: 5 March 2024