Plot: What’s it about?
A massive typhoon has crashed into Japan’s coast, which means damage will be severe and countless people will suffer. But this even worse than a usual typhoon, as Godzilla is within the waves and looks to make his grand return. A lot of time has passed since his last visit, but Japan has faced threats from other monsters. In response to the attacks, the Anti-Megalosaurus Force was created and has put down all attackers. For decades, the task force has protected Japan with skill and no defeats have been counted. So even with Godzilla on the prowl, most people feel secure, since the AMF is on the clock. The squad rallies all of its troops and weapons, then launches an all out assault on Godzilla. The monstrous reptile makes quick work of the AMF, then continues on to do his usual path of destruction. But the AMF isn’t down and out, as a new plan is hatched that could eliminate Godzilla forever. The giant reptile’s DNA is put to use, then combined with the latest in armor and weapons technology, to create a robotic Godzilla. This mammoth metal monster is named Kiryu and without question, it poses a threat to Godzilla. The first battle is a squash, as Godzilla is torn to shreds by the weapons, but escapes. The battle was won, but when Kiryu runs amok, will the AMF be able to win the war?
I love Godzilla movies, in fact I seek out any & all movies in which a mammoth monster levels an urban stretch. But while King Kong, Gamera, and even Mothra are kick ass characters, no one can cause damage like Godzilla. The mean green machine is an icon in Japan, with a franchise that spans numerous motion pictures. But here in America, we’ve been forced to endure cut, dubbed, and misframed Godzilla movies. Columbia has started to release some of greenie’s work in proper editions however, such as 2002’s Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla. After the abysmal Hollywood take on the wicked reptile, even some diehard fans gave up on the franchise, but some of the more recent volumes have been a blast. In this installment, we start right off with some Godzilla bash scenes, but then the wheels grind to a halt. I know even the best of G-Man’s flicks have exposition, but Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla has too much wasted time. A movie like this needs at least a decent amount of destruction, but this film is satisfied with a minimal level of demolition. What action we do have is fun to watch, but it is far too infrequent. I like the design of Mechagodzilla too, but without a lot of battles, we don’t much beyond a quick peek. I still recommend this to fans of Godzilla, but I expected more from this installment.
Video: How does it look?
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This looks very good and though I was expecting some wear on the print, it looks quite clean here. It seems like no matter how new a Godzilla movie is, it always look ten years old, but that trend stops here. I saw minimal grain present and very little in terms of debris, which had me very pleased from the start. The colors also look sharp and show no errors, as hues seem correct and flesh tones are normal as well. The black levels are well balanced at all times, which means detail is high and no murky shadows surface. A terrific visual presentation with other recent Godzilla releases from Columbia, which is about all we can ask.
Audio: How does it sound?
In a move that sure to thrill fans, this release includes the original Japanese soundtrack, in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, no less. This is a fantastic inclusion, as we can view the film as it was intended, so let’s hope Columbia continues this trend with their future kaiju releases. The mix is quite good too, as the smashes, crashes, and bashes of the film offer ample chances for the surrounds to show off. Whenever Godzilla starts to trash the town, the surrounds come to life and put you right in the middle of the chaos. So when glass breaks and buildings collapse, you might find yourself ducking for cover in your own home. The mix doesn’t have the sheer power of the elite level soundtracks out there, but it has some punch and sounds terrific. The dialogue is clean also, while the music is full and rich as well. This disc also includes a new English language track, as well as subtitles in English and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
