BLOOD WORK: THE SAGA OF THE KING OF THE MONSTERS ~ PART 16: THE RETURN OF GODZILLA a.k.a. GODZILLA 1985

Godzilla disappeared from the big screen for nine years. From 1976 to 1983 there were no more Godzilla films. The series went into hibernation. With the approach of Godzilla's 30th anniversary a new movie came out. A reboot of the series, a direct sequel to the original film titled THE RETURN OF GODZILLA a.k.a. GODZILLA 1985. Now given that it is the month of November, the month in which original 1954 Godzilla film debuted, it is only right that we celebrate the King of the Monsters birthday with the only other Godzilla film to capture the essence of the original. The sixteenth film in the franchise.

Part 16 saw not just the return of the classic kaiju but also the serious tensions and nuclear panic. It is the only other movie beside the original film featuring Godzilla by himself, no other kaiju. His look is redesigned to appear more menacing and frightening. Released during the Cold War era, this movie showcased the modern terror of a real life nuclear war moments away from occurring and the very real possibility of a nuclear bomb being dropped on a major city. Boasting the best special effects of the series to that point, a realism unseen since the first two black and white films, and a genuine terror if such a catastrophe were to ever happen. This movie brought Godzilla back in a big way. The series was reborn.

THE PLOT

It's been 30 years since Godzilla devastated Japan. When a lone survivor of a missing fishing ship is found and brought back to Tokyo, his story about what happened to his fellow fishermen aboard the ship silences everyone. The Japanese Prime Minister and his cabinet meet to discuss the fisherman's story. As to not plunge the country into panic they decide to keep the story quiet. When a Russian nuclear submarine vanishes just outside Japanese waters the event becomes an international incident. The terrifying truth is revealed to the world: Godzilla has returned.

The colossal beast attacks a nuclear power plant, absorbing all the nuclear energy before returning to the sea. Then he emerges from the ocean depths in Tokyo Bay. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces attack the monster, unleashing every weapon at their disposal except the nuclear option. No matter how grim the situation, the Japanese Prime Minister cannot allow another nuclear bomb to devastate Japanese soil. But Godzilla destroys JSDF and advances into Tokyo. A Russian ship docked in the harbor, housing a secret military missile guidance system, accidentally launches a nuclear missile from a satellite in orbit. The Japanese and the rest of the world quickly receive word of the impending nuclear strike, a bomb blast 50 times that of Hiroshima. Godzilla must be stopped, but what will be left of Japan afterwards?

THE GOOD

Grim realism. With the exception of the original film the subject matter has never been presented so straight-forward and terrifying. Imagine a nuclear bomb being launched and heading directly to your town or city? Then imagine that there is a hurricane or tornado on the ground devastating the city as the nuclear missile is closing in. That's the way this movie treats Godzilla. The actors play it straight faced, the film score is serious and powerful. This is similar to the look and feel of the original 1954 Godzilla. Of all the 28 Godzilla film sequels currently in existence, Godzilla 1985 comes the closest to capturing the spirit of the original and what Godzilla, in my opinion, truly is: nuclear devastation personified, a force of nature.

The suit. Godzilla looks villainous and downright evil in this movie. Not since Mothra vs Godzilla in 1964 has he looked so menacing. Gone is the amphibian frog-like face from the 70's films. Now they've given him a more sinister appearance with fangs and a wrathful gaze. The details on the skin show brilliantly in the photography appearing more lifelike than ever before. They've given him more facial movement too like blinking eyelids, grimacing lips, and more allowing for the most expressive Godzilla up to that time. They even show his chest rising and falling as he breaths. After watching every Godzilla film from the 50's, 60's, and 70's and then watching Godzilla 1985 it's like you've never truly seen the king of the monsters until now.

The special effects. Godzilla films have often been the butt of many special effects jokes about seeing wires, bad models, and zippers showing on kaiju costumes. Some of these are unfounded and other are true. But no such jokes can easily be made here. I just went on about how good the kaiju costume was and the scale models and atomic breath special effects are just as good. The cityscapes and structures look believable and impressive. Seeing Godzilla amid modern skyscrapers and technology is a sight to behold. All this and that which I spoke of above elevate Godzilla to a whole new playing field. Again, you've never seen a Godzilla movie like this.

THE BAD

Godzilla's wonky eye. It's easy to ignore but just as easy to notice in a few shots that Godzilla is kind of cross-eyed. And then it seems like his eyes are looking in two totally different directions. It's only in a few shots amounting to less than a minute of footage. But it's there. Overall it is such a little nit picky complaint. After having seen both the original Japanese version and the recut and reedited American version I have to say that I prefer the American version. I feel it has less problems and cut the really fake looking special effects that were present in the original Japanese print. I guess what I'm saying is that there are more problems with the film in its original version than the US recut. This truly a rare occurrence where the US version exceeds the original.

THE VERDICT

As a child this film frightened me. There's a sequence near the beginning where some of the main characters are attacked by a mutated giant sea louse that scared the hell out of me. You see several corpses of the victims of this thing and they are desiccated and horrific. It was also weird seeing my hero portrayed as a cold emotionless destroyer. I remained conflicted throughout the whole film as to how I felt about it. Seeing him looking so real was amazing though! At the end when Godzilla is lured into a volcano and seemingly dies... I cried. Like really broke down crying. I couldn't watch this movie for years without crying my eyes out. I hated seeing my hero die and in turn I found it difficult to watch the movie.

Now I think it is one of the best films in the entire franchise, maybe even second best, the original being the undeniable king. The subtext and allegories originally associated with the character return. This is the only Godzilla film to not have a stateside dvd release yet. I own the VHS and have a bootleg copy on DVD. I hope one day to see a legit dvd/blu ray release. Until then it's VHS or bootleg dvd.

Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10

0) Hate (Rational or Irrational)

1) Pure garbage with literally nothing to take away from

2) A lesson in what not to do.

3) So bad it's funny

4) Sub par. Shouldn't have spent the money

5) Good. Average.

6) Above Average.Worth the Price

7) Really Good! One Worth Owning

8) Great! Everyone Needs to Experience This! The New Standard

9) Nigh Perfect! Makes it into my Top Ten. A Rarity.

10) Leaves a lasting impression on my life. Above repute.