DVD Review: Godzilla vs. Mothra

Two years after Godzilla fended off King Kong (depending on which version you saw) and eight years after Godzilla Raids Again, Toho worked up a new G-suit, brought over a giant moth following her popular outing three years prior and paired them up in what would become an instant Godzilla classic.

Mothra vs. Godzilla is a film that delivers first rate monster fighting, an interesting human tale, and singing little women. It had been such a long time since I had seen this film that I had forgotten just how good it was. It is considerably different from the first pair of Godzilla flicks which sought to maintain a much more serious aura throughout. This time there is a healthy dose of humor from the story satirizing human greed, there is a nice chunk of monster fighting and miniature real estate destruction, and it also has some great music.

This DVD from Classic Media comes with both the American and original Japanese versions. The first thing I did was pop in the English dubbed take. What I found was a version that was very faithful to the Japanese. The translation and voice acting are both quite excellent; unlike Godzilla Raids Again, there seems to have been a strong focus on telling the story properly in the translation and an attempt in the voice recording to deliver believable performances.

The story picks up in the midst of a typhoon. During the storm, a giant egg is washed ashore. An unscrupulous businessmen, using all of his acumen, decides to charge a fee for tickets so that the public can view the egg and he can make a mint. Little does he know that the egg is not his to do with as he pleases. Tiny twins from Infant Island arrive to request the return of the egg. It belongs to Mothra, the guardian of their home, and the result of nuclear testing which has decimated the island.

While the negotiations regarding the egg continue, something else comes into play that will have a significant effect on the egg's future. Godzilla was awakened by the violent storm, and sensing a nearby threat, makes a beeline through Japan, heading right for the egg. This is Godzilla before he became a child's playmate — here he is an uncaring force of nature, nothing will get in his way. This sets up the confrontation between Mothra, defending her egg, and Godzilla, seeking to pretty much destroy anything.

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. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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