Plot: What’s it about?
An isolated island in a remote area of the South Pacific is home to a group of scientists, a team that conducts various weather experiments. The project isn’t just to monitor and record weather activity, instead this project’s goal is to learn the science of weather itself. After all, when science was able to decode other elements, a level of control was introduced. So if weather could be decoded and controlled, an immense amount of power would be gained. A reporter is also on the island, thanks to a dangerous escapade in which he parachuted down to find out more about the experiments. One of the first tests of the projects is a disaster, an event that triggers intense radioactive clouds. These clouds turn up the heat more than a little, not to mention that the local insects have been turned into massive beasts. Also on the island is a giant egg and when it hatches, a creature emerges that is soon threatened by local carnivores. But the father of the creature, Godzilla arrives and eliminates the threat and saves his son, Minilla. The recent chain of events has Godzilla quite upset and now he wants revenge, which means the entire island could be under attack. Will Godzilla conquer the other monsters and restore the island to a peaceful state?
As if the previous installment, Godzilla vs, the Sea Monster wasn’t strange enough, director Jun Fukuda would swing for the fences in Son of Godzilla. Until Fukuda took the reigns of the franchise, each sequel was almost an exact replica of the previous one. I am sure fans at the time were a little disgruntled by that trend, since they wanted new and fresh stories. So while Fukuda’s direction is offbeat, he did provide a much needed injection of new blood into the series, no doubt. The focus is more refined, with a single plotline to follow and that allows a brisker pace. And let’s be realistic, no one wants to watch a slow, complex Godzilla movie, we want a movie with tons of destruction and fast movement. This is not the most action packed installment, but the creatures are here and in droves. In addition to Godzilla and his son Minilla, we also see Kumonga and Kamacuras, not mention some other insect menaces. So when the battles kick in, you’ll see some top flight throwdowns and some expert use of the creature designs. In the end, this is a worthwhile picture if just because of the unusual elements and the variety of monsters that abound. Not one of the best Godzilla has to offer, but for fans, Son of Godzilla is more than worth a rental.
Video: How does it look?
Son of Godzilla is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The print is in good condition, with only a few minor instances of debris, while grain is never an issue. This allows the visuals to come across unhindered, so the image is crisp and detail is high. I found the colors to be bold and vivid, with no signs of error to mention, while flesh tones were accurate as well. No real concerns with contrast either, as black levels remain deep and consistent throughout. In other words, this is a slam dunk transfer from Columbia, so fans can look forward to one heck of a visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
At last, we have this movie with the original Japanese option, though the included stereo soundtrack isn’t that memorable. The presence is passable, but lacks the depth and power a true surround option would offer, but in the end, the material still has a solid sound. In other words, don’t expect a lot of bells or whistles, but as far as the basics, this soundtrack is acceptable. The music sounds good, with a little more presence that I expected, while dialogue is clean and clear at all times. The sound effects come across well also, but there isn’t as power in the action scenes as I would have liked. This disc also includes an English language track, as well as optional English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
