Godzilla vs. Destoroyah - Endgame

Alright, let me break it down like this: Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is not only the best movie in the second series, but it is easily one of the best entries in the entire series and one of the best monster movies ever made. After bringing Godzilla back and having a solid 11 year long series, Toho wanted to give the TriStar movie the best chance it had to succeed. And in order to do that, they had to finish off their current series and finish it strong enough that people knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the American Godzilla was not the original Toho monster. And so, they did what only one other movie in the entire series has done: that's right. In Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, you get to watch Godzilla die. The best thing about the movie is that even though that's the conclusion, it isn't even the best part of the movie. Everything about Godzilla vs. Destoroyah sees the second series go out with an absolute bang. The final original score for a movie in the series by the master Akira Ifukube, effects so brilliant and effective you'd think Tsubaraya had made them, and some of the best monster designs of the entire series all come together to make a movie that must be seen by all. To put it as bluntly as I possibly can, if there is only one movie you can watch from the second series, you had better watch Godzilla vs. Destoroyah.

After Birth Island erupts into flame and sinks into the ocean, LittleGodzilla is missing. This is just the beginning of the problems however, as an angry Godzilla menaces Hong Kong. Glowing red and orange, this new form of the monster, Burning Godzilla is soon discovered to be going into nuclear meltdown, and he will soon die, taking the world with him. At the same time, microorganisms enhanced by the Oxygen Destroyer from 1954 have grown and are growing still into a new giant monster capable of killing anything in its wake. In hopes of killing both monsters, Godzilla and Destoroyah are brought together by the JSDF in a desperate plan to not only save Japan, but the entire world from the death of Godzilla.

Let's start with the cast. I do mean it when I say everything about the movie is great, but we're just gonna keep getting better and better as this review goes on. First and foremost, this movie has probably the single greatest cast of characters in the entire series. We get to see a lot of fan service and old faces return in this one, but they're just the icing on the cake. New blood in the cast includes Takuro Tatsumi, as Dr. Kensaku Ijuin. A scientist who nearly rediscovers Dr. Serizawa's terrifying discover of the Oxygen Destroyer, he has an interesting lens to watch the movie, as the man who almost rediscovers, or reinvents, the horror of 1954. We also have two new Yamane in the world, Kenichi and Yukari Yamane, played by Yasufumi Hayashi and Yoko Ishino respectively. They both cover two interesting perspectives. Kenichi being another man looking to reuse the power of the Oxygen Destroyer if it means the destruction of Godzilla, and Yukari having to stand between both the men trying to recycle the horrible power. She has to stand helpless and realize Dr. Serizawa's fears of the Oxygen Destroyer came true. But while they're all fantastic and great characters, where this movie really shines is in its send offs to characters it's already introduced. Miki Saegusa is a fan favorite character, and she gets portrayed one last time by Megumi Odaka (pictured above left). She's been through a lot since Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2, and with this movie, we get to see her reconnect with BabyGodzilla who gets another significant redesign in this movie. While I can say she doesn't exactly do a TON, she is instrumental to the plot, and basically sets up the circumstances for the final battle, using the baby to lure Godzilla into the final fight. We also see the final appearance of Sho Kuroki who we first met in Godzilla vs. Biollante, although he is strangely not played by Masanobu Takashima, instead being played by his older brother, Masahiro Takashima (pictured above left). It's mainly odd since he's already played a character in the second series before as Kazuma Aoki in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2, but whatever, I'll buy it. It's always fun seeing a cool guy pilot reappear. Now, I know she only gets basically a cameo in the movie, but I just ADORE that this movie brought back the late great Momoko Kochi as Emiko Yamane (pictured above right). Bringing back her character is an amazing way to really tie the whole series up full circle. She, like Yukari, has to live in horror and recognize what's happening to the world. As despite her former betrothed tried to save the world with Oxygen Destroyer, she has to watch in horror as her nephew tries to resurrect the weapon that killed the original Godzilla. It's a brief, but great final performance. This movie's cast is stellar, honestly. And bringing back all these old characters is a great way to really salute the second series. Like bringing back fan favorite characters in a series finale.

Next up, HOW ABOUT THAT SOUNDTRACK?! The monster music maker master, Akira Ifukube as well returns to the series one last time to give the second series the musical farewell that it deserves. Ifukube's work in this movie might be his best in the entire franchise, honestly. Because what we get here is some of his most absolutely stellar work that really sets up and backdrops every scene in the entire movie masterfully. Every song on this incredible score from the opening credits to the final Requiem of Godzilla,  to the final moving rendition of the BabyGodzilla theme, to the bone chilling theme of Destoroyah's first reveal (which I didn't know until now was actually reused motives from the music of Atragon), is pitch perfect. This movie's soundtrack hits every note perfectly, being simultaneously awe inspiring, exciting, sad and terrifying all at once. It only makes sense, as an event like the death of Godzilla would be. This soundtrack is like a death march. While always being sad and making you think about the events that have happened leading up to it, it still never stops moving and just goes on and can't be stopped. Ifukube's work was perfect for this franchise, and he is still very missed to this day. This franchise receives some really incredible music in later years, but in the case of Akira Ifukube, nothing can top the original and absolutely ingenious work that went into this franchise through the hands of one man, a brain built for melodies and a baton. Listen to some of it on your own outside of the movie, it's genuinely incredible.



And now for the part everyone saw coming: the effects and monsters in this movie just absolutely steal the freaking show. Of course there are the two heavy hitters of the movie, Godzilla and Destoroyah, but we'll get to them very soon. Just be patient. First up to bat, I want to talk about Godzilla Junior. Or in other words, the perfected version of the son of Godzilla. Of course, BabyGodzilla was fantastic, and despite my small gripes, LittleGodzilla is still really great. But Godzilla Junior is basically pitch perfect. First of all, he looks like Godzilla. I mean, look at 'em right next to each other. They basically just made a smaller version of a big Godzilla suit. Ingenious really, because it means the son of Godzilla finally looks exactly like the Son of Godzilla would. And in this, he gets his most awesome appearance. First and foremost is of course his design. It's basically just Godzilla, but he's a lot younger and smaller than his dad and doesn't get the super ultra mega death beam of rage and fire that his dad does. But I mean, why would he? Godzilla is melting down, it wouldn't make sense for Junior to be on his power level. This movie also manipulates you the most with him though, because and foremost he also dies (in a really painfully sad and dramatic fashion, by the way), followed by Godzilla mourning his death and Miki trying her best to reconnect with him before he dies. I'm sorry, it's just, oh God. If the ending of Son of Godzilla was heartwarming, then the death of Godzilla Junior might turn on the water works. Next up to bat, Satan. I mean, Destoroyah. Destoroyah is one of Godzilla's best opponents ever. Of course, being linked so closely to Godzilla's origin is awesome, the organisms that make the monster all being a colony of microorganisms that thrived off of the use of the Oxygen Destroyer reawoken from a tunnel construction sight. I think there's gotta be some commentary in there, but I don't want to dig into that right now. So, we got a monster tied into Godzilla's origin. What's next? Make him absolutely terrifying. Destoroyah just is horrifying to look at. He actually does look like the Devil, or at least a horrifying interpretation of Satan, that is. He looks malformed, spikes pointing out of his knees and adorning his body, he just looks somehow simultaneously over the top and perfect. He doesn't mess around to, and he gets a lot of time to be scary. Before he develops into his perfect form, he develops and grows as he's an aggregate monster, being built up and formed from other smaller crustacean Destoroyahs to form the hulking monstrosity we see. No foe of Godzilla's can ever top King Ghidorah, but if one ever has come close, it's Destoroyah. And last, but CERTAINLY not least, the King of the Monsters himself: Godzilla. The design used from Godzilla vs. Biollante makes its final appearance with a slick change: BURNING. FIRE. FLAMES! Burning Godzilla is just so cool. He's just so freaking cool. Of course the origin of him is a bummer and the story of Burning Godzilla is sad, but he just looks so awesome. From his pulsing lights to his intense power ups he keeps getting throughout the movie, Burning Godzilla is too awesome. The only bummer of Burning Godzilla is watching him die. It's really sad and hard to watch the biggest and most iconic monster of all time die in such a really sad and horrifying fashion. Honestly, the only downside of the movie is that it's sad. But even then isn't a true flaw because it ends with Godzilla being reborn in Godzilla Junior. It's a sad ending, but it's a beautiful ending to this series and movie.
Simply, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is the absolute peak of the second series. They really ended it right. With the best effects up this date and the best monster designs of all time to this point, it's only made better by a brilliant score and awesome human story and cast. This is one of THE movies to watch. To put it lightly, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is incredible. Watch it.

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Tomorrow we're beginning another trilogy with the Rebirth of Mothra. Honestly, I'm just trying to delay watching TriStar's Godzilla. But these also do introduce new monsters, so, I consider them necessary watches. So, come back tomorrow for the Rebirth of Mothra!