Mothra vs. Godzilla

                                        

                                             Overview

Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) is critically-acclaimed as the greatest of all the Godzilla films, aside from the original. While I said the previous film was my personal favorite, this film is definitely in the top three for me. The special effects are terrific (for this genre), the acting is excellent, and the film’s antagonistic depiction of Godzilla would be a tough precedent to follow.

                                                    Plot Outline

A tsunami ravages the coast of Japan, washing ashore a mysterious, house-sized egg. The next morning, it attracts the attention of local media, including Ichiro Sakai (Akira Takarada) and Junko Nakanishi (Yuriko Hoshi). Professor Miura (Hiroshi Koizumi) also takes up an interest in studying the egg. However, all three are road blocked by Kumayama (Yoshifumi Tajima), a greedy corporate leader bent on using the egg for profit. Later, two twin fairies, called the Shobijin, reach out to Kumayama and Jiro Torahata (Kenji Sahara) to beg them to return the egg to Mothra, a huge but passive insect. The two instead try to capture the Mothra fairies, but they escape. They next appeal to the two journalists and Professor Miura, who are more sympathetic, but still unable to retrieve the egg. The tables soon turn on the greedy business leaders, as Godzilla erupts from the ground (he washed ashore during the storm, same as the egg), beginning his fourth movie rampage. Desperate to escape, Torahata kills Kumayama and tries to flee with his money only to be killed by Godzilla. The three heroes travel to Infant Island to beg Mothra to help repel Godzilla, which she reluctantly agrees. The timing proves perfect, as Mothra arrives just in time to stop Godzilla from destroying the egg. Initially Mothra holds the edge in the fight, but still loses the battle. Next the military pursue Godzilla using tanks, electrified netting, and bombs to slow his advance. None of it works, and his attack shifts to an island, where a group of school kids are in hiding. Thankfully Mothra’s larvae hatch, and battle Godzilla. Spraying him with silk, the larvae trap Godzilla inside a cocoon, driving him back into the ocean. The film ends with the people thanking the Shobijin for saving the country, and the offspring depart for Infant Island.

                                            Breaking It Down

Following the financial success of King Kong vs. Godzilla, Toho saw the character of Godzilla take off in popularity in a way that few previous movie monster had. If Kong breathed new life into the franchise, its follow-up cemented the character’s long-term influence in pop culture. In several ways, this film trumped its predecessor. The character of Godzilla was far less comedic, returning the character back to its 1954 depiction. For example, in Kong, Godzilla is shown playing beach volleyball with a boulder. In Mothra, the character tears through an electrical barricade, seemingly without effort. In one scene, an explosion sets the Godzilla suit on fire, but was kept in the movie to make the character look invincible. Another distinction between the movies is the depiction of the human characters. While both films feature greedy business owners, the latter film shows greed at a more sinister level. The heroes are generally more likeable, which can be a tough feat in a movie where the monsters are the main attraction. The model sets, again while cheap by today’s standards, are much more impressive than in previous (or future) films. Overall, while the plot is nothing new, the theme of good versus evil is better told in this one than most kaju films. Mothra’s passivity contrasts well with Godzilla’s marauding destruction, which helps to build the anticipation for the final battle very well.

On another note, the American-release of this film was, like many early kaju films, had its title changed. The title in the US was called Godzilla vs. The Thing, and posters hinted that the monster could be a squid or octopus-type creature. O

Critics and fans alike applaud this movie for its improved storyline, characters, and monster depictions. If you haven’t seen a Godzilla movie yet and are looking somewhere to start, I highly recommend this one (at least second to Gojira).

Five out of five stars!