DVD Review: Godzilla Raids Again

Following the success of Gojira, TOHO Studios immediately put the production of a sequel into motion. Six months later, Godzilla Raids Again arrived on the big screen proving that Hollywood isn't the only place where sequels get rushed and fail to live up to the original film. The first misstep was when they did not wait for Ishiro Honda's schedule to free up for it, instead turning to Motoyoshi Oda to take the reigns. The end result is sort of entertaining, but falls short of the horror of the original and only hints at the camp that would come about in the 1960s sequels.

Godzilla Raids Again is one of the lesser films of the series, and the rushed production didn't do it any favors. It is probably most notable for introducing the Godzilla vs. (insert monster here) formula that would work throughout the majority of the series. In this case it is Anguirus, the Ankylosaurus derived creature. While bringing us the familiar format, it failed to deliver any real human drama. The human characters just seemed to be biding their time waiting for the monster stuff to be over so their stories can resume.

This disc from Classic Media contains both the original Japanese film which was released in 1955 and the dubbed version that appeared in US theaters in 1959. Each of these versions offer a distinctly different experience, though neither one is terribly satisfying. The original version is the most successful, delivering a monster film that still retains the somber tone of Gojira, while the American version contains some of the worst dubbing and other meddling that I have yet encountered.

Both versions of the film follow the same storyline. The heroes are a pair of pilots who work for a fishing company. One day, while out searching for tuna, they are forced to make an emergency landing, after which they stumble upon a pair of monsters, Godzilla and Anguirus, fighting on the island before falling into the ocean.  The pilots get back to their base and report their findings. There are then talks of what to do about these monsters which are surely heading for Japan.

Soon enough Godzilla makes landfall with Anguirus on his tale. They battle through Osaka, destroying everything in sight while the military throws everything they have at them. The battle is a vicious one which leaves Anguirus at the bottom of the bay and the military still wondering what they can do about Godzilla. No, I won't give away the ending, but I am sure you have an idea of where it's headed.

The first version I watched was the American version, which was released, theatrically, under the name Gigantis, the Fire Monster. Not once during the movie is he referred to as Godzilla, although that is clearly who it is. This version is more annoying than I remembered. The majority of the movie is narrated by one of the pilots, and that device gets old fast. Honestly, did the American producers have so little regard for their audience that everything needed to be spelled out for them? Wait, don't answer that.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. …

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