Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

Movie Info

This little light of mine…I’m gonna let it shine!

Godzilla has been defeated once and for all and trapped forever.  Aliens calling themselves the Xiliens have come to Earth promising to save the Earth from an asteroid.  With the Xiliens’ true motives are revealed, the Xiliens reveal that they control the world’s kaiju and set them to attack all the major cities of the world.  The Earth Defense Force find that they are outmatched and outgunned…Earth might have only one hope:  Godzilla! If Godzilla is freed again, will the world be able to stop him if he manages to defeat the Xiliens?

It’s Zilla!!! Where’s Matthew Broderick when you need him?

Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, Godzilla:  Final Wars (ゴジラ ファイナルウォーズ or Gojira: Fainaru Wōzu) is the twenty-eighth film in the Godzilla series.  The movie is the final part of the Millennium series which started with Godzilla 2000.  Following Godzilla:  Tokyo S.O.S. in 2003, Godzilla:  Final Wars was the end of the Godzilla series for ten years.

I am a big Godzilla fan because Godzilla was a big part of my childhood.  It seemed like almost every Saturday that a Godzilla film was on.  I had the big Godzilla toy and especially liked when Godzilla battle other monsters…so in that sense Godzilla:  Final Wars doesn’t disappoint.

Yep….this happens

In typical Godzilla format, Godzilla:  Final Wars has a human story (the EDF battling the Xiliens) that takes up most of the movie.  The story isn’t as bad as some Godzilla movies, but like many Godzilla stories, this leaves you wanting more and more for the all monster throw down which always happens at the end of the movie.  Plus, the movie (like always) just gets weird at points with the son of Godzilla, Minilla, hanging out with a boy and his grandfather, and the Xiliens having a Matrix-style throwdown.  The movie is a bit longer than a Godzilla should be, but it does have some good battles by the end.

Yep…now we’ve entered The Matrix

The cast like always is not very stellar but it does have some fun members.  Akira Takarada who appeared in the first Godzilla in 1954, Mothra vs. Godzilla, Godzilla Versus the Sea Monster, Invasion of the Astro Monster, and Godzilla vs. Mothra returns as the Naotaro Daigo, the kidnapped United Nations Secretary-General.  The leader of the EDF is played by mixed martial arts fighter Don Frye who eats up his scenes (with his giant mustache).

Gigan sure knows how to strike a pose

The movie’s primary catch is that virtually all of Toho’s kaiju return in this movie to wreak havoc.  You even get an appearance by the much maligned “Zilla” from the 1998 American Godzilla which is considered canon (and for the first time a Toho Godzilla movie actually used an American location for a few scenes).  My particular favorite was the Smog Monster who has a small appearance and Anguirus who gets to be a Godzilla soccer ball.  Plus, Gigan is always a fun enemy.

Godzilla:  Final Wars is a must for a fan of classic Godzilla.  It is loaded with monsters and fun…goofy, but entertaining. It has everything you always loved about Godzilla when you were growing up.  This movie also marks the end of Godzilla for ten years until the release of the new big budget Godzilla in 2014.

Preceded By:

Godzilla:  Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)

Followed By:

Godzilla (2014)