This latest batch of Godzilla films, starting with "Godzilla 2000," has been hit or miss all the way through. Fans have been split on nearly every film. The Shinsei series gets its only direct sequel here with "Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S," and it's a pretty close call.

Mechagodzilla has been damaged. Godzilla has been wounded. After an epic battle, both creatures have been returned to heal in different ways, but there is a new threat. The Shobijin, the small fairies from Infant Island, have returned. They have come to visit Dr. Shin'ichi Chujo (Hiroshi Koizumi), a man familiar with the island's most famous creature, Mothra. They bring with them a warning. Either the Godzilla skeleton that was used to create Mechagodzilla is returned to the sea, or Japan will face unprecedented destruction at the hands of Mothra. The government must now decide whether or not to stop the project and lose their only real defense, or continue with their only hope.

It's great to see Koizumi back in the genre he is most famous for. The longtime actor has not been seen since the beginning of the Heisei series, "Godzilla 1984." Unfortunately, screen time is short for just about all of the actors, except for those battling it out inside the suits.

For the first half hour the meager story is moved along, giving a very basic primer over what happened in the previous film. If you have not seen the previous years "Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla," don't bother here. Akira Nakao returns as Japan's highest authority and gets plenty of screen time overall as he faces most of the burden concerning the giant weapon.

A rare direct sequel (though it really is just a continuation) for the series, "Tokyo" makes plenty of references to the original "Mothra." It does help add an additional layer to the story (considering what little time is has) and gives a reason for the government to be so apprehensive about Chujo's suggestion that the robot be disassembled. But when it all comes down to it, you're here for the monsters.

That's exactly what this film gives you. This has to be one of the longest battles in kaiju history lasting well over an hour in screen time (and an entire night in, uh, "real time"). The two main suits remain unchanged except for a large apparent scar on Godzilla's chest from the previous struggle. Unfortunately, for the first time in a while, it really is obvious the suit is made of rubber. Mechagodzilla looks fine, but a combination of too much lighting and oddball camera angles make the effect far too obvious in more than a few shots of Godzilla.