Mothra is mostly done in the traditional manner, though quick movements are handled by unconvincing CGI. Her design varies little from any of the previous incarnations. There are only a few brief shots where the wires show through. Miniature work is excellent and there is a ton of pyrotechnic work the crew can be proud of.

Even with all of the struggle, there is plenty of time for missteps. For whatever reason, the actors are constantly having flashbacks to either previous scenes in this movie or the one previous. It quickly becomes irritating. The battle itself has a moment of cheese (a ridiculous back flip) and some nasty editing, but that's compensated for thanks to a nice homage to "Ghidrah" as the larvae Mothra attaches itself to the end of Godzilla's tail. Finally, as usual, the CG effects are at least five years behind and more than a few times pull you right out of the movie. This likely has more to due with the ridiculously short length of the shooting schedule rather than anything else.

Put the two films together and you have a winner. Separated, the first probably wins out by a hair. Neither film has much in the way of characterization, but at least you care for the people in the first one. Here, the monsters win out and the destruction is on a grand scale, but you just don't feel a connection with the on screen action this time around. It's probably for the best that the series has come to an (supposed) end with the recently premiered "Godzilla Final Wars." It's become too formulaic for its own good. (*** out of *****)

Sony has brought the Godzilla films over here with nothing short of brilliant transfers recently, but something has gone horribly wrong here. Grain is at all time high for most of the film and the opening aerial dogfight is almost completely obscured. It likely has as much to do with the special effects as it does with the transfer. Flesh tones vary from dead-on to washed out. Later in the film, a small upper portion of the screen has an annoying layer that seems whited out. It comes and goes, but it really becomes grating after a while. Toss in some nasty aliasing issues too. Black levels are solid, but that's one of the few positive moments this transfer provides. (**)