BUGGING OUT

A Video Review of "Godzilla vs. Megaguirus" also known as "Gojira X Megagirasu" or "Gojira tai Megagirasu: Jii Shometsu Sahusen" or "Godzilla vs. Megaguirus: The G Annihilation Stragedy"

Copyright 2003 Glenn Walker

Coming after Godzilla 2000 one should hope Godzilla vs. Megagirus would be better. It is, it’s a breath of fresh air. There is hope for the Godzilla franchise after all.

The Godzilla suit used is the same one from the previous movie which of course was a big departure from tradition. He was green which contrary to popular belief was the first time Godzilla had ever been that color. He was always a bluish charcoal gray. The new look is also more reptilian and snaggle-toothed in the face and his back spikes are more jagged than usual and prismatic in color. It’s a different look but at least it’s better than the American version from 1998.

The opening sequence is both brilliant and bothersome. This new G is refilmed into scenes from 1954’s Gojira. The black and white scratchy film is a nice touch. Director Masaaki Tezuka seems to be aping many classic shots Godzilla destruction from previous films in this opening.

Japanese defense forces create a super weapon called the Dimension Tide to use against Godzilla. It creates a black hole from which nothing can escape. Unfortunately while testing the weapon they mutate a giant dragonfly thought extinct. How’s that for dumb luck?

It begins to multiply. These bugs -the meganula- flood the city in order to multiply more. They begin to swarm over Godzilla and feed on his radioactivity which they return to their queen. The queen further mutates into a super giant meganula, a monster called Megaguirus. The new monster seeks out its radioactive food supply on its own, hilarity ensues.

The monster battle is hampered by frequent slow motion interrupting the flow and bugging (pun intended) the heck out of me. It was however an unexpected treat to see Godzilla against a different type of opponent. Megaguirus moves very fast and uses its stinger to attack and feed. G on the other hand has a few new tricks in his repertoire as well. He grabs the big dragonfly with his tail and also uses his back spines to slice a limb off the bug.

Other highlights include one particularly cool scene has humans sneaking up on a swimming Godzilla in order to plant a transmitter on his enormous back. Godzilla vs. Megaguirus is much better than I would have thought and much much better than Godzilla 2000.