Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)

Movie Info

It’s on like Donkey Kong…or like Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla…II

Godzilla is a threat.  The United Nations Godzilla Countermeasures Center (UNGCC) is out to eliminate the threat by creating a warrior to battle Godzilla.  Using Mecha-King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla is created as a means to stop Godzilla once and for all.  While a team of explorers discover an egg which hatches a baby Godzilla, Godzilla is once again attracted to Japan and endangering the coast, but he is joined by a pteranodon named Rodan who seems to be protecting the baby Godzilla.  With new information on Godzilla’s biology and a weapon to fight him, the battle to stop Godzilla could finally succeed!

Directed by Takao Okawara, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (ゴジラvsメカゴジラ or Gojira tai Mekagojira) was just released as Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla in Japan and is the twentieth film in the Godzilla franchise.  Following Godzilla vs. Mothra in 1992, the film is considered part of the Heisei period which began with The Return of Godzilla in 1984.

Rodan is coming for you!!!

The original Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) was always an exciting find on a Saturday morning growing up.  Godzilla battling a giant robot version of himself is the height of kid fun.  Godzilla battled Mechagodzilla again in Terror of Mechagodzilla in 1975, but it is nice to see Mechagodzilla back again here.

The Godzilla series got pretty weird over the years.  Initially Godzilla was a monster of man’s achievements and a terror on society.  Godzilla then became the protector of Japan as other kaiju attacked Japan, and Godzilla would battle them.  In the Heisei period, he’s kind of back to being the heavy again, and the military is always trying to stop him (which generally leads to problems).  This movie has the UNGCC just out and out trying to kill Godzilla with mixed results.

Call me Godzooky one more time lady, and we’ll see how cute I really am…

This entry of Godzilla was also pushed as the final in the series with the new American Godzilla scheduled to come out (that didn’t happen until 1998, and it didn’t go well).  They created Baby Godzilla or Godzilla Junior as a replacement for the Minilla character from the first series of Godzilla films.  The film was also considered a launch point for a children’s series that never materialized.

Visually, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II follows a lot of the old Godzilla formats, but blends them more with some better special effects.  Mechagodzilla itself looks a lot better than it did in the old days (though the logic of building a giant robot that looks like a dinosaur seems pretty dumb in general).

A Godzilla movie is a Godzilla movie.  If you like Godzilla, you’ll probably like Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II…but if you don’t like Godzilla, don’t expect anything different.  Despite considering ending it, two more Godzilla movies were released before the American Godzilla.  Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II was followed by Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla in 1994.

Followed By:

Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994)