Gojira (Godzilla)

Reviewed by Alicia Glass
October 22, 2006

Director: Ishiro Honda Studio: Kinuta Laboratories Distributor: Classic Media MPAA Rating: N/A Review Rating: 7 out 10

Call him Gojira, call him Godzilla, whatever you like: the 400 foot tall mutant dinosaur is back to rampage through Tokyo in this double-feature disc set of the original Japanese Gojira, and the Americanized remake Godzilla, presented to you by Classic Media!

Given my personal preference between the original Japanese version and the Americanized, I'd take the Japanese. It's more clear-cut, more defined, and frankly, more of a monster movie. The ‘made for Gaijin ' version comes across as an irritating protest against the H-Bomb, with incredibly wooden acting shots thrown in starring Raymond Burr, and an overall change to the very tone of the movie itself. Which I suppose was the point, but it seems somehow demeaning to the American audiences.

A special thank you to Classic Media for sending me the screener to enjoy!

Both original Godzilla movies are worth a see, if for no other reason than to see how the heck they do manage to finally defeat the fiery lizard. I had always wondered that. And both movies, despite the myriad of sequels, can act as stand alone films. Catch them if you can.