Godzilla - Tokyo S.O.S.

Rating:
Summary: Not too shabby
Review: I recieved this film for christmas and I have to say that I was impressed with the special effects. When watching a Godzilla film, one doesn't come to expect a certian technical prowess when it comes to CG work. However, while not ILM quality, the effects here more than get the job done. The opening Jet sequense is particularly stunning, and proabably compromises some of the best CG work in any Godzilla movie. Period. And of course, Godzilla is still a man in a rubber suit, and I must say, he looks better than ever. The movies actng is a bit cheesy and never lives up to the films powerfull score. But this is to be expected. I really dont understand how someone like Roger Ebert can give a Godzilla movie a poor rating because of the effects work. It amazes me how he completly misses the point of these movies. I must say that I was a bit confused by the plot (despite it bieng used more than once in past films) but this is proabably due to the fact that I never saw Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla --this movies prequel. The action is great, the effects spectacular, and the dvd offers the origional Japanese soundtrack. What more can a Godzilla fan ask? Buy it today.

Rating:
Summary: City Stomping Fun
Review: "Godzilla: Tokyo SOS" (released in Japan under the rather cumbersome moniker "Godzilla X Mothra X Mechagodzilla: Tokyo SOS") is one of the best of the recent Godzilla movies. For those of you who don't like all that pesky plot and character development getting in the way of monster carnage - this is your movie. A startlingly long amount of the running time is devoted to a three way melee between Godzilla, Mothra, and Mechagodzilla, and it's some of the best monster action Toho has ever filmed. What little human plot there is is made a bit more interesting than usual by the presence of Hiroshi Koizumo, reprising his role from the original "Mothra."
The DVD from Columbia doesn't look as good as it should considering that this is a 2003 movie. There are scenes, particularly near the beginning, of very heavy grain, and there are some truly grotesque moments of edge-enhancement. Purists will be happy to know that subtitled Japanese audio is available as well as the English track. Unlike most of Columbia's Godzilla DVDs, there is a rather substantial extra - a Toho-produced 20-minutes behind-the-scenes documentary about the special effects. It's pretty interesting, but definately not for casual fans. Also included are some random trailers, including the Japanese teaser for "Godzilla: Tokyo SOS."

Rating:
Summary: GODZILLA SOS DISSAPOINTS!
Review: Godzilla SOS is a dissapointment in my view. Yes the special affects were great compared to the other Godzilla movies but a lot did lack here. The number one thing that made me give this feeling was the lack of a good story. Im sick of TOHO retooling there KAIJU to take on different roles. Im sorry but growing up MECHAGODZILLA was a bad guy and thats that. If they had done a better job introducing mechagodzilla maybe I wouldnt feel as bad for it. Or why not just make another robot totally new.

Rating:
Summary: LET THIS BE, THE FINAL BATTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I got this DVD as an early Christmas gift, it is quite an enjoyable film. I don't know why Kiryu was referred to as Mechagodzilla through the whole movie, when in the first one they called him Kiryu 99.9% of the time. Well the plot is pretty good but to preachy at times, and there are moments when you wish that everyone would just shut up so you can see the big boys going at it. However this movie as many others say is just to set up the epic final battle between Kiryu and the Big G. They threw Mothra into the mix to make it more exciting.
WARNING SPOILERS:
The movie starts out with the cosmos(annoying midget Mothra girls)warning this guy from the original Mothra movie that the bones of the original Godzilla must be returned to the sea because the dead should not be disturbed. The man(sorry I forgot his name)goes to the prime minister to warns him that Mothra will declare war on mankind unless the request is not anwsered. The prime minister says that Mothra destroyed Tokyo 43 years ago and says Kiryu is their only defense. Later on through the movie it's everyone discussing the situation, until a giant sea turtle(Kameobas)washes up on shore with huge claws marks in it's neck, and everyone knows that it's killer can only be Godzilla. Kiryu in the mean time is under heavy repairs after the whoopin Godzilla gave him in the first movie. That guy(from first mothra movie)still argues that Mothra will come and fight in Kiryu's stead. He is still scoffed at. Then the mighty Godzilla rises from the sea, the military is as always helpless against him. Godzilla comes ashore and begins wrecking havoc(GO BIG G),meanwhile that guy from the first Mothra movie(going to be reffered to as MOTHRA GUY for the rest of this review)goes looking for his grandson who has dissapered, and soon finds him laying out the Mothra symbol with desks from a nearby building. The sybol attracts Mothra who goes to battle Godzilla. They fight a fierce battle, but Godzilla quickly begins making short work of Mothra(FYI I don't like Mothra), The prime minister soon decides to launch Kiryu to assist Mothra in combat. Meanwhile on Infant Island(Mothras home) her egg hatches and to Mothra Larva are born, they quickly head to Tokyo to assist their mother. Kiryu soon arrives on the battle field and begin fighting a fierce battle. Godzilla charges the massive machine but Kiryu flips Godzilla over his shoulder, the pilots think the big guy is out cold and approach him. Godzilla now undoubtedly burning with rage lashes out with his powerful tail knocking Kiryu clear off his feet and tumnling down towards him, Godzilla quickly turns over and lets loose his mighty breath blasting Kiryu right in the face and slamming back, knocking him out cold.

Well to make a long story short the Mothra larva arrive and Mothra gets blasted to oblivion, the continue a long battle, Godzilla is eventually stunned and wrapped in silk by the larva and carried off to sea by Kiryu and they desend into the japenese trench. However if you wait half way through the credits you'll hear the mighty roar of Godzilla indicating he is still very much alive.

You will leave this movie very pleased I believe even though I was a little upset by the ending. I still believe people will be arguing over if Godzilla was defeated. Personally I think Godzilla is the mightiest being of all Kaiju and was the true victor, although he was flown away from Japan he survived while Kiryu did not, I think Godzilla was the victor, and to me he will always be the victor to me and I really think he was the victor.

In conclusion this is a great movie with great affects and I apologize for this long review, the major complaint I have about Kiryu is he doesn't have as much personality as he did in the first one. I give this roughly five stars.

Rating:
Summary: THE SAME OLD STORY
Review: I just watched this movie and was looking forward to it. Why, because I'm a fan of the classic Japanese movies. I would not tell anyone not to buy this movie, but be aware there isn't any real reason to do so. It starts off with a interesting link to the first Mothra movie, which would be great if this were a Mothra movie. There is a touching part with Mothra and the new births, which would be fine if this were again a Mothra movie. Sadly it's a Godzilla movie, and again there isn't much of a story here. Aside from the two points mentioned, you have seen everything in this movie before, many times. It doesn't make any more sense then it ever did. Big fight, ruin a city, weak story tailored it seems to kids rather then a serious attempt to be noticed. Someday these directors will get it. Maybe someday Godzilla fans will demand a movie that remembers were it all started. If this is all they can come up with, why not have Ultraman vs Godzilla. They have something in common, the same old story everytime.

Rating:
Summary: Godzilla : Tokyo SOS - Not too bad.
Review: Kaiju Eiga fans are in for a treat with this, the 2nd to last entry in the Godzilla series. The movie itself is a direct link to two of Toho's previous creations (Godzilla x Mechagodzilla, and Mothra). So there's quite a bit of story interwined from all three of these movies...

The best part of the film would have to be the monster battles, Mothra never looked better, and Kiryu (Mechagodzilla) is also a nice addition to the mix. Although, I for one, am getting tired of the Kiryu's appearances, and I'm glad that the robot doesn't appear in "Godzilla : Final Wars" (the big guys final film).

The down side would have to be, well, a few things in all honesty. One, Kiryu is never called by it's true name once through out the film... When it is repeated over and over again. Instead, the subtitles read either "Mecha G" or "Mechagodzilla".

I'd also have to say that I like the original title of "Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla : Tokyo SOS" 100% better then the title that the DVD is going by.

But all in all "Godzilla : Tokyo SOS" is a great entry, and shouldn't be missed by anyone.

BTW - "Godzilla : Final Wars" is already out in the Monster King's homeland and all in all it's doing okay... Though, there are many mixed reactions to Goji's final film here in the States.

Only time will tell.

Rating:
Summary: Not The Best
Review: Let me start by saying i own all the Godzilla movies in one form or another and am not very impressed with this one. High in spirituality and while the action was good it wasnt anything not seen before. Mechagodzilla and Mothra are wearing pretty thin after all these years and its just more of the same. While i know the alien plots have been used and reused in the Godzilla saga, at least a different type of alien is the norm and would have been a help in this outing. Whether true or not ive read where this will be the last Godzilla movie for sometime so while its not the best by far it is one the collector would want. But if you just want some good Godzilla i would recomend any of the four before this one. I really looked forward to this one and am dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Nicely Done but Still a Rehash...
Review: The difference between then and now in these films can be summed up in one word..."writing". The originators of this soap opera featuring a giant lizard (what else can you call it after 50 years and 30-40 films?) simply wrote better stories, and too often in the 90's and 2000 series, classic set-pieces from the 60's films are just re-worked into a different story and setting. This one uses the final epic battle from 1965's Godzilla vs Mothera as its basis. Been there, done that - literally (like 50X). No surprises here.

Also, the modern (2000 to 2005) G era simply featured Mothra and Mechagodzilla in too many films. Fans, young and old, of the series were almost begging to include a new or updated favorite Kaiju.

On the plus side, this film had some of the best effects work in the series - the japanese are really improving their CGI skills, so watch out ILM. And it had some truly excellent miniture city sets. The cityhall building was beautifully made, and I literally, hated seeing the monsters demolish it. Grown Mothra, thanks to some very good CGI, is actually somewhat believable. Larva Mothra looks about the same as it did in the 60s... ridiculous and at the same time very cool. Since it's a machine, Mecha-G was always among the more realistic Kaiju but they're bulking him up with so much weapontry in the latest iteration it is basically imobile and a bit silly looking.

The plot is really nicely handled. I never got bored, and actually enjoyed the non-monster scenes, which is a problem in many of these films, and also something Honda and his editors handled better than their modern counterparts.

The music is understated and appropriate - certainly among the better non-Ifukube scores since Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster. Though there's no memorable melodies, it's subtle, supports the story nicely, and is actually refreshing change of pace over the bombastic well-worn traditional themes.

This is one of the better executed modern G flicks all in all but it borrows too much from earlier films and essentially is a rehash. One tires of Toho using the same few monsters in their stable over and over again. And, the same themes, plot elements, and even set-pieces are just given face-lifts. The latest films in the series, like this one, have been executed just fine. But this series needs some new creative blood, badly. This issue of Toho's "Godzilla Projects" doesn't lie in their execution. It's in the concept phase.



Rating:
Summary: One of the best (Top 5 of all G films)
Review: This has to be one of the best in the series. After being bored with the last MechaGodzilla film, I was pleasently surprised with this one. If the series would have ended after this film, it would have been a fitting ending. Hopfully Final Wars won't disappoint. If your A Godzilla film fan. Don't delay BUY this film.

Rating:
Summary: Sayonara Kiryu!
Review: This is one of the best action-filled Godzilla movies! The sound and picture quality of this movie are outstanding. Director Masaaki Tezuka really puts this movie into high gear. It starts out a little slow, but soon enough the action thickens, culminating in the extended battle scene that seems to take up 40% of the story. Concerning the plot, I think it is adequate, not spectacular - but hey, this is a Godzilla movie - which typically focuses on action rather than on plot or character development.

The special effects in this film are very well done! Kudos to the Asada special effects team! I think some of the most memorable (and realistic) action scenes of Godzilla films are found here. The scenes with Kiryu and Godzilla are just breathtaking. The CGI and digital effects are excellent; they increase the realism of the film.

I like Godzilla Tokyo SOS much more than the first one, Godzilla against Mechagodzilla. For one thing, Tokyo SOS has more action, better SFX and sound, and more monsters. And don't forget, it has the cute fairies that act as Mothra's ambassadors. The redesigned Kiryu in Tokyo SOS looks and acts more like the ultimate weapon against Godzilla.

This movie, IMHO, is as good as GMK (Godzilla Mothra King Ghidorah). In addition, Toho has included on the DVD a really fascinating, behind-the-scenes featurette. Arguably, this rare featurette itself is worth the reason to get the DVD. If you haven't seen this film, I'd recommend renting or (better yet) purchasing the DVD. When you do see the film, don't forget that there is a short scene at the end of the credits. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars. Kudos to Masaaki Tezuka and his cast and crew!