Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)

Movie Info

Feel my mighty eyebeam!!!

Godzilla has crushed Mechagodzilla…but that doesn’t mean that the robot cannot be utilized.  The attempt to salvage Mechagodzilla however awakens another danger in the creature Titanosaurus.  With Titanosaurus secretly being controlled by a marine biologist named Shinzô Mafune (Akihiko Hirata) who wants to destroy humanity, the alien leader Mugal (Goro Mutusmi) has plans for Mechagodzilla’s return…and this time he’s even stronger!  The human race’s only hope could be Godzilla…and with Mechagodzilla teamed with Titanosaurus, even Godzilla might be outmatched.

Tag Team is back again!

Directed by Ishirō Honda, Terror of Mechagodzilla (the Japanese title of メカゴジラの逆襲 Mekagojira no Gyakushū which translates as Counterattack of Mechagodzilla) is the fifteenth picture in the Godzilla film series.  Originally, the film was released as The Terror of Godzilla in the United States and Monsters from an Unknown Planet in the United Kingdom.  Following Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla in 1974, the story actually takes place before 1968’s Destroy All Monsters.  The Criterion Collection included the movie in the Godzilla:  The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975 (Criterion #1000).

I’m a big fan of the “old” Godzilla and it felt like they were always on lazy Saturday afternoons as a kid mixed between Shirley Temple movies and Planet of the Apes films.  Mechagodzilla movies were always the best because Mechagodzilla just showed a step-up from Godzilla vs. _______ monster.  I know that these Godzilla films are by no means good, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun.

Hahaha….I’m a CRAZY alien!!!

Terror of Mechagodzilla has the typical Godzilla plotline.  There is the human aspect of the story.  This time you have a dull love story between a marine biologist Akira Ichinose (Katsuhiko Sasaki) who ends up falling for Doctor Manfune’s daughter Katsura (Tomoko Ai) (who might or might not be human…in a rather confusing aspect of the story).  You have the big monster in Titanosaurus who just muddies up the fight between Godzilla and Mechagodzilla with his powerful “tail wagging, but Titanosaurus was necessary to just not be a repeat of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.  An American version adds time to the story, but mostly in the form of a recap of previous events.

The acting for the movie is very stodgy.  No one really stands out which isn’t unusual for a Godzilla film and all the human characters seem like stock characters…you do have to always love the characters that put themselves in harm’s way as Godzilla dukes it out with the other big monsters and then expects Godzilla to protect them.

Burning down the city!

Like all Godzilla movies, the effects aren’t that great, but there is a certain quality about them which makes me favor them.  Younger viewers who grew up watching Mighty Morphin Power Rangers will see Godzilla as just another version of their show since it didn’t really upgrade the effects over the years.  You have to love the head of Titanosaurus that just bobs up and down.

Terror of Mechagodzilla essentially ended the franchise.  The movie the final entry in what as known as the Shōwa era which stretched from the original Godzilla (or Gojira) in 1954.  Godzilla did not return until The Return of Godzilla in 1984 which was released in the United States as Godzilla 1985 (which began what is known as the Heisei series).

Preceded By:

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)

Followed By:

Godzilla 1984 (1984)