1 Comment Posted on Anime, Mecha

Code Geass R2

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Man I remember when Code Geass ended. I almost threw my laptop out the window in frustration. Luckily I was able to occupy my time with other things (Cant remember what they were at the moment) until I finally got around to the sequel. Personally I have to say that it was worth the wait.

Code Geass left the the fans on a nail biting Mexican stand off. Its sequel picks up Lelouch enjoying a semi normal day at school. It appears as if he has no idea of being Zero or leading the Black Knights. Its soon revealed that he has been brainwashed and placed back into his previous life in an attempt to flush out C.C. Now Lelouch has no choice but to rebuild his plans and forces from the ground up. This becomes difficult thanks to a young man named Rollo who possesses an interesting Geass and claims to be Lelouch’s brother.

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With the reset back to square one that Lelouch undergoes, he has no choice but to think outside the box or in this case another country. His plans take his tam outside of Area 11 (Japan) to China and back to build the forces his needs to take down Britannia. This exploration of the different areas of the world of Code Geass really helps to give a sense of the far reach that the power of Britannia holds.

The series also increases the development of characters we already know while at the same time introducing a lot of characters that add to the story. We are introduced to the Knights of Round, the elite warriors of the Britannia empire and their custom Mechas. Each of them has a unique look and feel to it. Personally though I am particular to Gino Weinberg’s Tristan. Maybe its just that I love a mecha that can also transform, still it was a good robot overall.

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The series builds to on intensely to a conclusion that I insist everyone needs to see. It wraps up so nicely that I wonder I have revisit the new OVA series, Code Geass: Akito the Exiled. I haven’t heard anyone talking about it but it does look very entertaining. Maybe Ill get around to it eventually but after the intense and memorable ending that Code Geass R2 leave you with, there is very little reason to check out any other series. The creative team behind it really did stick the landing. Iv you liked the first series, then you need to see the sequel. Its that simple.

Rating: A-

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Big O

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What would it be like if instead of being Batman, Bruce Wayne called upon a giant robot to fight evil? This is the question that many a fan has asked while making philosophical what ifs with other fans. Luckily there is a series that answers this question and does it with style. The name of that series is Big O.

In the amnesiac town of Paradigm city, savvy Roger Smith works as a negotiator, making business arrangements for those who can pay. He is not without a conscious though for when things get intense and forgotten giant monsters from the past appear he shouts into his watch “Big O! Show time!” This summons the giant robot to piston punch those who be harm the populous. Together with his butler and a the robotic R. Dorothy Wainwright, he fights against the protect the city as the mysterious from the past that wont stay forgotten.

This series has an interesting atmosphere to it. I mentioned Batman in the introduction because that is the comparison that is often mentioned when talking about this series. I have to say that it gets the look of what would pass for Batman more than some of the segments form the Batman: Gotham Knights film series. Roger even looks like a character model for Bruce Wayne. That alone should be clean sell for anyone to check out the series.

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The mystery that the series posses is also very deep. The reason behind the event that caused the great amnesia to take place is never fully explain. Probably why a second season was eventually put into production. Still, without the second season and looking to the depths that the stories takes one could easily say that things are not fully flushed out. That would be the one negative mark I could make about that series.

The Big O and the robots he fights are very unique. They have a variety in their designs from steampunk to cyberpunk and a bit of old low budge sci-fi movies mixed in for good measure. There also is the robot, Dorothy who acts emotionless but seems to add moments of heart to the story. Amazing how sometimes it takes robots to get us to feel emotional responses.

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Big O is a great series which has some nostalgia from its days on Toonami but I worry that the series may fall through the cracks from the sad fact that Mecha shows don’t get the love that they deserve here in the States. Yet, for those who still hold love for this series, there will always be moments of solitude when we find ourselves yelling into our watches, “BIG O! SHOWTIME!”

Rating: A-

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Earth vs. the spider (1958)
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We now come to my greatest weakness when it comes to Giant Monsters. As a recap number three on the list was the American Giant monster movies and number two was the Ultraman franchise. Hands down my greatest weakness in the giant monster fandom is Giant Spider films. 

Yes for me once a spider gets bigger than the size of a silver dollar I high tale it out of the room. It took multiple viewings of Return of the King before I got fully accustomed to seeing Shelob on the screen. I literally squirmed in my seat during the Desolation of Smaug when the group gets captured by the spiders. That on the table you can understand that there will not that many film reviews of Giant Spider movies. Today’s review though is and I’ll explain later what made me decide to watch this particular film. 

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Carol is worried about when her father doesn’t come home the previous night. When she and her boyfriend Mike go investigating they only to find a giant Tarantula. They inform the police who find the creature and decide to use poison against it. After knocking the monster unconscious, its taken to the local High School for holding until they can transport it to a university for study. What they don’t know is that the spider isn’t done by a long shot and the town doesn’t realize that the Spider will be ready for round 2 soon.

This movie has a lot of plot holes that are impossible to overlook. First off they don’t explain at all how the spider grows to its incredible size. They just discover a giant spider and they have to deal with it. Also, the police got on board with believing the kids a bit too quick. The spider probably should have taken a few more victims for the authorities to really get their collective butts in gear. 

Also, can we talk about these insane high school students for a second. How desperate are these kids for entertainment that they would be able to overlook the corpse of a huge spider and start to swing dance? Personally if I heard such a huge beast existed I would make sure to move at least three states away from wherever that thing ever was. No telling if it left eggs behind or not. My fear of giant spiders aside this movie isn’t really that threatening. The spider itself only really gets to kill like two people and web up a town. For the most part he’s really more of an inconvenience than he is is a threat. 

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It wasn’t really a bad movie but its just so bland. If it wasn’t for my arachnophobia the movie wouldn’t have bothered me at all. I did enjoy the way they were finally able to dispatch the creature but still a good ending after sitting through a crap film will only get you so far. Hence the rating.

Rating: D

1 Comment Posted on Kaiju

Ultraman


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Like I said previously I have weaknesses when it comes to the Giant Monster Fandom. Old school giant monster moves took the number three spot on that list and I decided to keep the train going. The second weakest area of GMF (giant monster fandom) is with Ultraman.

A special division of the government, the Science Special Search Patrol (Mostly referred in the series as the Science Patrol) is tasked to investigate weird disturbances around the world. As they go to investigate a crashed meteor, one of there members, Shin Hayata collides with a secondary meteor and almost dies but it turns out that the meteor was in fact a being an energy being who wishes to help to defend the earth. Giving him the Beta Capsule, Shin is able to transform into Ultraman and defend the earth from evil monsters.

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I’ll be blunt. I found this series to be bit dull. This series did have some pretty good moments. The episode with the monster graveyard where the team shows respect for the fallen monsters they have fought and vanquished was actually moving. Unfortunately, this episode it comes after over thirty episodes of the usual formula of investigating a strange phenomenon, it turns out to be a monster, the Science Team tries to stop it but don’t succeed and Shin turns into Ultraman to defeat the monster. Yes there is the classic timer on Ultraman that reminds him he only has three minutes which should add tension to the story but personally I found that little “dinging” over and over again to be incredibly annoying and it comes at some point every episode.

I’m sure others will point out that I’m a big fan of Godzilla and Sentai why do I have such a problem with Ultraman. Most Sentai and Godzilla do have character development to the characters in the series and movies. Ultraman has the old school sitcom feel to it. There isn’t much change or growth in the characters as the series progresses. Things change but once in a great while and the biggest change I can remember is that the kid sidekick became a full fledged member of the Science Patrol.

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This is the only Ultraman series that I have watched all the way through. Its not to say that I will never watch an Ultraman series again or haven’t. I have tried to watch a few others but have yet to watch them to completion. The problem is that I haven’t found “My Ultraman” series. What do I mean about that? Allow me to explain. I’m a big fan of Kamen Rider and the first series I watched was Kamen Rider Blade and was and still is one of my favorite Kamen Rider Series. What I need to do is find an Ultraman series that I enjoy immensely and can look back at and remember “Keep going. The franchise can entertain you as much as I did. Don’t give up on us.” Once I find that series I’ll let you know and write up about it.

Well there you go the second of my weaknesses in the GMF. What’s my biggest weakness? Come back next week and find out.

Rating: B (the monster graveyard episode and Pigmon`s death episode)/ C+ (for the rest of the series)

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The Giant Gila Monster


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My third weakest point in my all things Gigantic Fandom would have to the American live action monster movies. The other two I’ll mention on other posts. Anyways, the American Giant Monster films are a category onto themselves. From their beginning with the original King Kong movie, their evolution into being the prized attraction at Drive-In Cinemas, and their eventually home on the TV movie and Direct to Video market makes this group of films an aspect of Monster Fandom in its category. Still, when I do find myself watching a noteworthy Giant Monster Film in this category I’ll make sure to do a review for this blog. Except for today where I will be reviewing a movie that comes off as “meh” at best.

When strange accidents start happening in a small town, a young mechanic known as Chase takes notice. Adding the Sheriff in the search for his lost friends, they keep noticing that accidents are occurring one after the other with little explanation. When a train is destroyed they find that the cause of the damage is a Giant Gila Monster. Will the Sheriff and Chase be able to stop this giant monster before it destroys the city? Yes, yes they will. 5730cbedee71ff72812b0f2d0e148462bfe39663-700

With American Giant monster movies, the whole concept is that you are generally afraid of the creature on screen will come to eat you in the middle of the night. Frankly, the Gila Monster just isn’t that scary to me. A real Gila Monster was used with models but they didn’t really showcase it going on that much of a rampage. Other than eating like three people, smashing a few cars, a train, and busting through a wall in a building the Giant Gila monsters ins’t that menacing. Kinda makes me wish they had found a way to actually capture the monster and study him. Of course few American Giant monster movies DON’T end with the titular monster getting killed off. It’s easier to just find a convenient stash of explosives and blow the monster to kingdom come.

The main character, Chase does come off as too much of a wonder boy. He’s works in a garage, is helping the family and his disabled sister, is always willing to go the extra mile to help someone out. Considering his hobby is street racing you would think that he would be a hot shot rebel who didn’t take no for an answer. Instead he comes off a boy scout which is a change from what you’d expect but he’s a bit on the bland side. He is the hero of the film and just happens to know where some nitroglycerin is to ensure that they have a way of killing the monster at the end of the film. I guess he might grow on a person after a few viewings or from seeing characters in other giant monster movies who are so self centered and foolish that they bring about their own demise.

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It’s not bad really. Some of the acting is dated and again Chase is too much of an all around nice guy but nothing truly drags the movie down into the depths of the gutter. Unfortunately nothing really raises this film onto the plateau of excellence, except for the fact I think that the Gila Monster (which I know was a live animal) was cool to look at. In the end the film just rests in the middle with a few out there that I know will give it the attention they feel it deserves.

Rating: C

1 Comment Posted on Anime, Mecha, Review

Eureka Seven

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The review for this week came from realizing that I had not finished watching its sequel series. There was no major reason why I gave up on Eureka Seven: AO half way through. The series didn’t annoy me or frustrate me, it was just one of those series that you never get around to finishing. Oh well, let’s focus more on the one that really is worth talking about.

Renton Thurston lives a boring life in the shadow of his father, the man who saved the world. He’d much rather be a member of Gekkostate, the counter government group that uses pop culture and Lifting to get spread their message. Renton’s life is thrown into a tailspin when a member of Gekkostate named Eureka crashes into his house in her robot, Nirvash. Together, the two will form a bond that will be tested and will throw the entire world into change. Will Renton be strong enough to weather the storm?

The intriguing thing about the series is just how deep things go. Once Renton starts his crush on Eureka, he insists on sticking with her no matter what. What he doesn’t understand is that no matter what will include taking down a government that is bend on trying to destroy the mysterious Coral that has infected the world, learning the truth behind his father’s death, and coming to grips with the fact that his girlfriend might be more than a regular human. Still, give the boy credit, he crushes hard and doesn’t give up no matter what obstacles are thrown in his face. Give that boy a metal!

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Eureka Seven is what you might call a package anime. it has everything going for it. Good characters, breathtaking landscape, detailed vehicles, and incredible Giant Robots. I mean, the Robots on moving through the sky on flying surf boards, how is that not the coolest thing ever? How about the fact that he animation is spectacular and their is no shortage of characters and relationships for you to attach yourself to. Not a fan of the Renton and Eureka relationship? Then try the Dominic and Anemone one. Takes the boy a while to realize just how much he that girl means to him but in the end, he finds a way to reach her…by falling through the sky screaming her name. .

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Seriously, I know this anime is a bit long but go check it out. You will not regret it. Now that I finally did the review for the first series maybe this will prompt me to go back and finally finish Eureka Seven: AO. Probably not considering I haven’t gone back in almost three years. Still, you never know. I also realize I’ve been given too many good ratings lately. Expect something of at least a C or lower next week.

Rating: A-

P.S. Wanted to make a reference to the ever popular quote “You’re going to carry that weight” that was often used in the series but nothing came to mind. Oh well. Still a cool quote to mention thoug.

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Vision of Escaflowne

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Today’s series had an interesting premiere when it was shown on American television. In order to be eligible for broadcast enough content needed to be cut that several episodes were able to be merged into one, including the very first episode. If you can`t tell today’s series is the Vision of Escaflowne. I promise not to make any comments about the pointy noses.

High School girl Hitomi wants nothing more than to confess her love to her first crush and be the best track runner she can. Unfortunately for her this life is shattered when a young prince named Van appears before her. Soon she is whisked away to Gaia a fantasy world where people fight in giant robots called Guymelefs. As trouble grows, Van awakens the legendary Guymelef Escaflowne to help him as he works to fight against the evil empire of Zaibach.

Escaflowne was a series designed to appeal to both males and females. For the guys we have intense action and giant robots and for the gals we have romance and good looking men with long flowing hair. Other series try to incorporate this elements but some how forget to get the balance right usually forgetting that on top of just good action and intense romance their also needs to be some type of story to top it all off with. The story of Escaflowne though is deep, mystical, and has fans insisting even today that a sequel to the series should be made.escaflowne_versus

Id be in the wrong if I didn’t address Hitomi as a character. Yes she is a bit annoying and way too focused on the wrong guy in the series, focusing too much on Alan despite the fact that Van is the man she is obviously meant to be with. That and the fact that she actually bends fate to her will but for the totally wrong reasons result in large amounts of chaos to unfold. Other than that shes a perfectly lovely character.Vision-of-Escaflowne-Escaflowne

Basically Escaflowne is a classic that everyone needs to see. Sadly most people cant get over the crap job done with the American broadcast and others who insist the English dub is horrendous (personally I liked it. I don’t really see what all the complaining is about). Still, I highly recommend that everyone tracks this series down and watch it. Use the original Japanese if your not a fan of the dub

Rating: B+

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Bakurya Sentai Abaranger

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There are three inescapable truths that I find keep popping up in my life. The first is that dinosaurs are awesome. the second is that robots never get old. And the third is that robot dinosaurs are the pinnacle of coolness. That is why I pursued the series Abaranger.

When the meteorite that killed the Dinosaurs hit the earth, it actually created two dimensions. Our Earth (referred to as Another Earth by the villains) and the Dino Earth, where the dinosaurs lived and continued to thrive. The inhabitants of Dino Earth, the Saurains are living peacefully until they are attacked by the Evolians. Defeated and searching for help a Saurian warrior named Asuka searches for those who have Dino Guts, the mythical force of the dinosaurs that people still possess and allows them to achieve great things. He discovers three individuals with incredible Dino guts who become, the Bakurya Sentai Abranger.

Lets start with the Sentai team itself. Ryoga (Abare Red) is acting as a dad figure to his little sister. Yukito (Abare Blue) is the serious one who works as a Chiropractor who overcharges his clients to use the money to fix something from his past. Ranru (Abare Yellow) is the most underdeveloped one. She used to be a idol but now works as a bike messenger trying to forge her own path of freedom. The Sentai member that steals the show though is Asuka as (Abare Black), a member of the Saurian race who comes to earth and fights to get back his home land from Evolians. The team’s base is a dino themed restaurant ran by an old man who is obsessed with dinosaurs. Anyone who has watched a Sentai before gets accustomed to this type of odd base as each years Sentai often heavily showcases the theme they are portraying.imagination-station-dynasaur-squad-abaranger-08-035db712-mkv_snapshot_21-11_2014-04-03_00-09-05

The Evolians are interesting to say the least. The villains are led by young Reje who is host to the series main villain. She is backed up by Mikela (who creates the Trinoid, monsters who are always made up of three components) and Voffa (who creates the over large Giganoids). Id be in error if I didn’t mention Abare Killer, the series evil Sentai member. He’s furthless, cunning, and truly evil. If you are hoping for a trade to the good side you’ll be waiting for a while. Trust me I counted.

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The mecha of this series fall under the sentient partners category. They actively talk and give advice to the team through their wrist devices. They combine into a robot that follows the armament system with its arms replaced with other dinosaurs to use as weapons. Not my favorite type of mecha style but I enjoy this series so much that I still bough the toy.

I originally watched this series when it aired as Power Ranger Dino Thunder and the two serious were definitely different in the stories they tell. Still there is one theme that remains present in both versions. In Dino Thunder, the White Ranger tries to save his father from being Mesogog while in the Sentai Abare Black works to save Mahoro from her Jeanne persona. Its these personal conflicts that real steal both shows and keeps the view coming back for more. Asuka`s quest definitely had me at the edge of my seat. The original series did offer some things that Power Rangers never would have been able to showcase, such as Asuka and Mahoro’s wedding night. I kid you not. They kept that scene in. Definitely wasn’t expecting. Its mature moments like that that make the series so enjoyable.

If you can’t tell this series was not only very entertaining but became one of my personal favorite Sentai series. Just try not to pay attention to that whole other dimension where dinosaurs surived part is similar plot in Super Mario Brothers and you’ll be fine. Glad I finally got around to writing up this review. So that’s one down and…thirty seven to go at the time of this review…Great.

RATING: A-

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Gamera: Revenge of Iris

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Rounding out a trilogy is a very hit or miss task. For every Return of the Jedi or Iron Man 3 there is X-Men: The Last Stand or Batman Forever to compare it to. After the first two movies were incredible there was a lot riding on the third film in the Gamera Heisei Trilogy to be just as impressive. So how does it stack up?

In a flashback, young Ayana watches helplessly as Gamersa destroys her family’s home with her parents inside during his battle with Gyaos in Tokyo. In the present a graveyard of Gamera’s bodies are found and while he attacks two Gyaos, Gamera ends up destroying Shibuya. Seeing this and still fueled by pain and loss Ayana discovers a baby monsters that she calls Iris. Soon little Iris grows big and is absorbing the blood out of helpless victims for nourishment. Meeting in Kyoto Gamera and Iris have an epic showdown but is the recently discovered grave site a bad omen for everyone’s favorite Guardian of the Universe? 968full-gamera-3--the-revenge-of-iris-screenshot

The world continues to spin in the Gamera trilogy and the effects of the previous two films catches up with our characters. Having absorbed Mana to defeat Legion has had devastating consequences causing Gyaos around the world to hatch. The world’s is now in chaos and Gamera is working his butt off trying to keep up. Helping him out we have the return of Dr. Nagamine (who is now a globe trotting Gyaos expert) and Asagi (Gamera’s former priestess and biggest fan). The two women work as a team helping to recruit allies and investigate the claims of a Gyaos mutation (Iris) in efforts to do all they can for Gamera. It’s this incredible attention to detail and world building that make me love the series so much.

A recent viewing of this film reminded me of the insane amount of detail they have done improving upon the characters from the first film. After watching this movie and rewatching a trailer for the first film, it was insane to see all the different changes that the characters went through. The damage the Gyaos go through (especially the one in Shibuya with its eye hanging out) and the more menacing and jagged look that Gamera sports in this film really help to accentuate the darkness and carnage that the film is trying to express. Still, despite his intense new look, Gamera is still trying to do all he can to stop the world from coming under Gyaos’ control. My only major problem is that I don’t get to see the epic fight scene between Gamera and the large flock of Gyaos descending on Japan. That would have been one of the coolest fight scenes ever. Still, I’ve grown comfortable with the way they cap off the story.

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If you can’t tell I love this film just as much as the other two and find the entire trilogy to be some of  the best giant monster action that came out of the 90s. The series gave a new sense of respect and power to a character that had been written off as a joke. Watching him especially defend the Universe from the likes of Gyaos, Legion, and Iris is a joy that I will gladly partake in at the drop of a hat. Again, if you haven’t taken the time to watch these films yet, stop depriving yourself. If you are reading this blog then I guarantee you that you will enjoy watching these three films. So ends my discussion of the Gamera Heisei trilogy. This won’t be the last of our green flying butt kicker though. I’ll eventually go back and review his past films and the one that followed this. Still, my fingers are crossed that the new film that will come out in the near future taps into the roots set forth by this trilogy.

RATING: A-

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Gojira


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While getting the materials for this entry, I discovered that there is a French Heavy Metal band known as Gojira who actually wanted to be called Godzilla first but faced a copyright violation and had to chance it. It makes me want to look some of their music up and give it a listen. Maybe later though, I have a much bigger task at hand.

After a fishing boat is destroyed near Oda island, investigators soon discover that the weather had nothing to do with the destruction that has been plaguing the island. Instead, the islanders watch as the head of a giant monster they call Gojira raises its head from over the mountain and bellows his oncoming destruction. The result of a nuclear test, this fearsome creature is a force of nature that no man made force has any ability to take down. Only the recluse Dr. Serizawa holds the key to defeating the creature and victory will not come without a sacrifices.

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For anyone who sees the later movies of Godzilla that were more geared towards children (Godzilla vs. Megalon, Godzilla’s Revenge) will immediately recognize the difference in atmosphere that htis movie possesses compared to what came after it. Gojira is a serious and powerful anti-nuclear war film. It makes it a point to showcase that the monster is the result of man’s foolishness and the ramification that come from believing that we have the ability to control all that their is in life when we are very insignificant against the destructive force of nature. This film is definitely geared more towards the more mature Kaiju fan who isn’t simply watching the film to enjoy the explosions and cool monster fight scenes.

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One of two most polarizing scenes in the movie is as the children’s choir calls for peace as they camera scrolls across the destruction that was caused by Godzilla’s rampage. Its chilling and you feel the blight of the people as they call out for help to save them. The other scene which has been forever etched into my memory is the scene where Dr. Serizawa realizes that his weapon, the Oxygen Destroyer is far too powerful to exist in the world and will only create as much destruction as Godzilla would and sacrifices himself only after telling his fiancee to be happy with the man she has chosen to love. Like I said this isn’t the type of Godzilla movie most people are used to watching.

This film would later be turned into Godzilla King of the monsters thanks to additional scenes with Raymond Burr as an American Reporter named Steve Martin. Many American fans have probably watched this version but may not have taken the time to track down the original Gojira. For those who wish to elevate themselves to be a more well read and knowledgeable Kaiju fan, finding this version of the film and watching it is a must. I highly recommend you watch it and I dare you not to feel something during the ending.

Rating: A