Plot: What’s it about?
Mechagodzilla isn’t a monster made of flesh and blood, but even more lethal components, high grade metal and advanced technology. The frame was crafted to resemble Godzilla, but the look is all the two share, as this metallic monster is superior in all respects. The armor prevents all but the most intense attacks from causing immense damage, while the weapons system is second to none. This manmade monster was built to protect mankind from the real monsters, fire breathing beasts, flying creatures, and other giant menaces looking to crush downtown to rubble. Mechagodzilla has done just that, defending his human masters against countless attacks from monsters of all kinds. But now the metal beast is shut down, as the toll has been taken and now repairs must be done to bring him back. A pair of fairies warn the humans not to rebuild the monster, but no mind is paid and soon, a series of mystical events unfold. Soon enough, Godzilla and Mothra are on the scene and Tokyo is dead in their sights. When an unfinished Mechagodzilla is launched against the two, which side will be wiped out and will anyone survive the clash of these titans?
If you’re a fan of Godzilla and his incredible powers of destruction, but hate when the story slows down his rampages, then this is your movie. Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. is all about the monsters and the chaos they can make, so the storyline, characters, and all that junk are passed over. A threadbare plot is in place, but only to serve as a reason to have some epic monster battles. I was pleased to see some extensive battle scenes also, so not all the clashes are over in a flash. A fight can be too long and become dull, but in this case, just the right balance was executed. Godzilla is fun as always, while Mechagodzilla and Mothra are also fun to watch, but I do wish some new monsters could be unleashed. The pace is brisk, with action around every turn and yes, the monsters do have quite a lot of screen time. You’ll also find some humor in the dialogue, which seems to have been run through without the benefit of a polish. I’ve heard countless fans ask for more action, more battles and this time, Toho has delivered the goods. Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. is a blast to watch and even for casual kaiju fans, this one is worth adding to your personal collection.
Video: How does it look?
Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. As a 2003 release, the elements haven’t been worn in the least, so we have a superb source print here. As such, the visuals are so crisp and refined, you’ll think you’ve died and went to kaiju heaven. The image has a lot of depth, which means even subtle visual touches are prominent. The rich, vivid colors don’t miss a beat, so hues are bright and vibrant, which really adds to the visual punch. I was quite impressed with the black levels also, as contrast is deep and stark, with no flaws in the least. I have to applaud Columbia for this treatment, as Godzilla fans have never had it so good and this movie looks terrific.
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 an English language track, as well as optional English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a twenty minute behind the scenes featurette, which takes inside the creation of the cool monster sequences. While not as in depth as the material found on the import Gamera sets, this is a nice and most welcome look inside the Godzilla process. This disc also includes the film’s Japanese teaser trailer, but no other supplements were tacked on.
