Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995)

Movie Info

Yeah…I’m pissed

Birth Island, the home of Godzilla and his son, has been destroyed.  Godzilla is now suffering nuclear meltdown and Godzilla’s son has appeared to mature into a full sized Godzilla.  As the military fights to stop Godzilla to save the planet, the oxygen destroyer that initially stopped Godzilla might be the only chance.  An experiment to turn the oxygen destroyer into a new weapon has led to the creation of an organism named Destoroyah.  Now, Godzilla’s last act might be to save his son and humanity from Destoroyah, but if Godzilla succeeds, the Earth might perish!

Where’s your dad now Junior?

Directed by Takao Okawara, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah was originally titledゴジラvsデストロイア Gojira tai Desutoroia.  The movie followed Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla in 1994 and was the end of the second “era” of Godzilla known as the Heisei series.  The movie is sometimes paired with Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla on DVD.

This was a big Godzilla picture.  For years, Godzilla has been wreaking havoc in Japan and this movie was released touting his death!  As an American, most of the later Godzilla films were straight-to-video events…and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah was no different.  I never got to see Godzilla’s “end” until recently.

I want to suck your radiation!

Sadly, I couldn’t get into the second wave of Godzilla films.  I don’t know if I’ve outgrown them or expected more.  The first Godzilla films bring back fond memories of childhood, but these Godzilla films seem to lack the heart.  Going back and watching original Godzilla films, I can’t find much different between the two film series in story or looks.

The biggest problem with Godzilla films is that you should probably never watch a bunch of Godzilla movies together.  The plots all blend due to the generic supporting cast.  Destoroyah becomes the same as other monsters and due to his constant success at defeating the creatures, Godzilla seems pretty indestructible (even when he is destroyed here).  It doesn’t necessarily make for compelling storytelling.

It is throw-down time!!!

The visuals for the movie are like all Godzilla films.  The movie looks like a bigger budgeted episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.  The sad thing is, a computer generated Godzilla would fare no better (as seen in the American Godzilla).  I like Destoroyah’s design (kind of an Aliens meets praying mantis), but it isn’t really different than other Godzilla foes.

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah represented the end of Godzilla.  His son is reborn as the new Godzilla (through the magic of the Godzilla meltdown I guess), but the next Godzilla showed a complete change in direction with the American Godzilla of 1998 (which is generally accepted in the Godzilla canon as a branch film).  Godzilla’s third series of film known as the Millennium series started with Godzilla 2000:  Millennium in 1999.

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Preceded By:

Godzilla vs Space Godzilla (1994)

Followed By:

Godzilla (1998)

Godzilla 2000 (1999)