- you've got the outrageous dialogue ( Great Caesar's Ghost ! ! ! )
- good Godzilla scenes ( even the scenes where the JSDF is getting trashed )
- monster-on-monster action ( Godzilla vs . Orga )
- the scenes flow
- both the Human Scenes and the Monster Scenes are interesting
- and you have the hilarious finale at the end where the actors make their conclusions on Godzilla known to the audience
But as well as the movie gets most things done , there really should've been MORE monster action . The film's huge flaw was that no monster action occurs between minute 37 and minute 69 . Because of that , I can't give this movie 5 stars .
There are three Monster Scenes in the movie :
1 ) Godzilla trashing random things at the beginning of the movie
2 ) Godzilla vs . the military ( one of the best one's I've seen involving the military actually ) ; later , the UFO comes in and trades shots with Godzilla
3 ) Godzilla vs . the UFO ( which later transposes into Godzilla vs . Orga )
[ note : there is only one monster-on-monster scene ]
In any case , here are some hilarious situations from the movie :
SITUATION 1
When the scientific team discovers the meteor's amazing buoyancy , Miyasaka immediately speculates that the rock is probably a vessel from outer-space . ( ONLY a scientist in a Godzilla movie could've jumped straight to that conclusion ! )
SITUATION 2
During the climactic fight between Godzilla and Orga , he ( Orga ) starts chewing Godzilla's body . Shinoda says Look at that ! He's trying to become a Godzilla clone ! Katagiri says nothing , but looks away with a hilarious WTF expression .
And here is some hilarious dialogue from the movie :
DIALOGUE 1
When the military are drawing up their strategy to defeat Godzilla , the general reveals his plan to lure the giant monster into the bay where many underwater mines will be waiting . One officer asks the general what his backup plan is ( in case the mines don't stop Godzilla ) . The general explains that he has new Armor-Piercing missiles that will go through Godzilla like crap through a goose . ( LOL where do they come up with this stuff ? )
DIALOGUE 2
After the initial battle between Godzilla and the UFO ends , Miyasaka speculate about the rock's origins again :
MAN 1 - . . . Therefore I'm convinced that this vessel came from another galaxy .
MAN 2 - A visitor from outerspace ? My God , it's just too crazy to believe . ( I guessed these people hadn't seen any ' Godzilla ' movies before )
DIALOGUE 3
Katagiri is about to detonate City Tower where the UFO is hacking into the city's computers . Katagiri then learns that his old collegue , Shinoda , is still inside . Katagiri decides to proceed with the detonation on schedule , then says :
Looks like I'm gonna have to send more flowers . ( very cynical indeed ! )
( when Shinoda survives , and sees Katagiri later , he announces to Katagiri : nice try * * * hole )
DIALOGUE 4
After Godzilla defeats Orga , Yuki points this out :
Boy , that's ironic . It woke up after 60 million years and then Godzilla destroyed it .
Shinoda pauses for a second and replies Uh . . . yeah .
DIALOGUE 5
Here are the hilarious conclusions that the human stars come to at the movie's finale :
MIYASAKA : We scientists produced this monster , Godzilla . And ever since , we tried to destroy him . [ Godzilla proceeds to trash the city ]
YUKA : Then why ? Why does he keep protecting us ? [ Godzilla continues to demolish buildings ]
SHINODA : Maybe because Godzilla is inside each one of us . [ Godzilla then sprays his atomic breath at every building he sees ]
All in all , Godzilla 2000 brings back the REAL Godzilla . This movie is entertaining all-around . Yet , it won't get 5 stars because of that huge gap in the middle of the movie where no monster action occurs .
007 4 Possibly the best Godzilla film of all time . Great acting . Great monster battles . The only thing that isn't great about this film are the curse words . They shouldn't have curse words in movies .
Anyway , THIS IS A GREAT FILM ! I ABSOLUTELY TREASURE IT ! It isn't perfect , of course , but it is a LOT better than that dumb american godzilla film !
WATCH THIS FILM ! IT'S WORTHIT !
My rating : * * * * * * / * * * * * 6 / 5
017 4 Godzilla once again shows up in Japan and wreaks havoc on several cities . The army fights him , using bombers , tanks and helicopters , while scientists discover an ancient meteorite under the sea . But this meteorite is really an U.F.O . and soon flies towards Tokyo ! Godzilla too arrives there and attacks the U.F.O . To fight Godzilla , it creates an alien lifeform , the giant space monster Orga . Now , let the battle start . . . !
After Mr . Emmerich's try in 1998 , Toho Eiga Company brings back the real Godzilla to make us fans happy ! It's wonderful to see a legendary monster back on the big screen , even if this new film has it's flaws : Takayuki Hattori's score is by far inferior to the fantastic music of Akira Ifukube , and they use already too much of CGI effects . The model tanks and battles BELONG to Japanese Godzilla films and are an important part of the charm that made this genre last for 47 years . Please stop to fill Godzilla movies with lots of boring CGI ! So GODZILLA VS SUPER-MECHAGODZILLA ( 1993 ) and GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH ( 1995 ) are better movies , but GODZILLA 2000 MILLENNIUM still ranks as one of the top Godzilla films . Godzilla's new design is a standout ! !
5 stars for the movie , but not for TriStar's version of it : There's no Japanese language track , atrocious dubbing , an almost unbelievably bad DVD cover , a stupid tagline , and - worst of all - about 9 mins . of footage have been cut from the original version which runs about 107 mins . It's uncut on Japanese DVD , but without subtitles . Hong Kong DVD version is uncut too , has a surprisingly good quality and includes English subtitles .
Both are much better that the TriStar DVD version .
022 4 THIS DVD DOES NOT HAVE ANY JAPANESE AUDIO TRACKS . JUST DUBBED . If you want this film in original Japanese DO NOT order this version . Other than that the film was good . Just what you expect from an Amercanized ( dubbed ) Godzilla film The only problem with this film is the horrible dubbing done by Tri-Star and the fact that a whole 12 min of film was cut out .
031 4 I watched so many Japanese Rubber Monster Movies when I was a kid in the 1960s , and I find it rather amazing that the company to blame , Toho , is still plugging away . If there was one thing that tempted my partner me to rent this DVD , it was curiosity over how much Toho may have progressed in terms of special effects . This company , after all , is responsible for building and systematically destroying so many miniature replicas of Tokyo over the years . In Godzilla 2000 the modelmaking is a little better , a little more effective . There's some clever camerawork and even a little CGI ( although I would've thought the Japanese would be MUCH better at CGI than is evident here ) . This time Godzilla shows up to save the world from ( Gasp ! ) a MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE ! ! ! Little else need be said . If you fondness in your heart for Japanese Rubber Monster Movies , I can say with conviction that you'll have a lot of fun with Godzilla 2000 . My BIGGEST disappointment with this DVD is the lack of the option to watch it with the original Japanese dialogue ( with English subtitles ) . But then again , what would such a movie be without the poorly-dubbed English dialogue ?
045 4 Gino , the american Godzilla . . . . . . I WILL NOT DESCRIBE HOW HORRIBLE TRISTARE'S REMAKE WAS , but will give this a review instead . I will tell you the Good things first #1 A lot of good effects are done #2 It was realesed in America ( Yah ! ) and although americanized , it is still good . #3 Great monster battle . #4 interesting plot , it is fast paced and is always getting to the point . #5 Good Dubbing , yes you heard right , good dubbing . ( Although critics under rate it . ) Bad things , 1 and only , some cgi was bad , oh well it's not like people are int he streets yelling how bad the cgi was . Bottom line is that this is a response to the American Godzilla , and they make a great movie that I will treasure for a long time .
058 4 Godzilla once again shows up in Japan and wreaks havoc on several cities . The army fights him , using bombers , tanks and helicopters , while scientists discover an ancient meteorite under the sea . But this meteorite is really an U.F.O . and soon flies towards Tokyo ! Godzilla too arrives there and attacks the U.F.O . To fight Godzilla , it creates an alien lifeform , the giant space monster Orga . Now , let the battle start . . . !
After Mr . Emmerich's try in 1998 , Toho Eiga Company brings back the real Godzilla to make us fans happy ! It's wonderful to see a legendary monster back on the big screen , even if this new film has it's flaws : Takayuki Hattori's score is by far inferior to the fantastic music of Akira Ifukube , and they use already too much of CGI effects . The model tanks and battles BELONG to Japanese Godzilla films and are an important part of the charm that made this genre last for 47 years . Please stop to fill Godzilla movies with lots of boring CGI ! So GODZILLA VS SUPER-MECHAGODZILLA ( 1993 ) and GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH ( 1995 ) are better movies , but GODZILLA 2000 MILLENNIUM still ranks as one of the top Godzilla films . Godzilla's new design is a standout ! !
5 stars for the movie , but not for TriStar's version of it : There's no Japanese language track , atrocious dubbing , an almost unbelievably bad DVD cover , a stupid tagline , and - worst of all - about 9 mins . of footage have been cut from the original version which runs about 107 mins . It's uncut on Japanese DVD , but without subtitles . Hong Kong DVD version is uncut too , has a surprisingly good quality and includes English subtitles .
Both are much better than the TriStar DVD version .
064 4 Just a warning , this DVD DOES NOT contain the Japanese version , only the EDITED and POORLY DUBBED American version .
066 4 WOW ! ! ! IMPRESIVE ! ! ! SPECTACULAR ! ! ! Okay , Im overeacting . Anyway , this is a MUST HAVE for any G fan who loves a great , fun to watch Godzilla movie . The dubbing was better than any other Godzilla movie I've ever seen and the effects were beyond great ! I recommend this movie and give it a five star rating . Pure excitment ! ! !
067 4 Sure , Godzilla ( starring Broderick ) was an average movie , but as a Godzila movie , it bombed . For one thing , Godzilla wasn't in it . Luckily , Toho released this follow-up flick and brought back their star to be in it - the star , of course , is Godzilla .
I have to say this movie does ALMOST everything right :
- you've got the outrageous dialogue ( Great Caesar's Ghost ! ! ! )
- good Godzilla scenes ( even the scenes where the JSDF is getting trashed )
- monster-on-monster action ( Godzilla vs . Orga )
- the scenes flow
- both the Human Scenes and the Monster Scenes are interesting
- and you have the hilarious finale at the end where the actors make their conclusions on Godzilla known to the audience
But as well as the movie gets most things done , there really should've been MORE monster action . The film's huge flaw was that no monster action occurs between minute 37 and minute 69 . Because of that , I can't give this movie 5 stars .
There are three Monster Scenes in the movie :
1 ) Godzilla trashing random things at the beginning of the movie
2 ) Godzilla vs . the military ( one of the best one's I've seen involving the military actually ) ; later , the UFO comes in and trades shots with Godzilla
3 ) Godzilla vs . the UFO ( which later transposes into Godzilla vs . Orga )
[ note : there is only one monster-on-monster scene ]
In any case , here are some hilarious situations from the movie :
SITUATION 1
When the scientific team discovers the meteor's amazing buoyancy , Miyasaka immediately speculates that the rock is probably a vessel from outer-space . ( ONLY a scientist in a Godzilla movie could've jumped straight to that conclusion ! )
SITUATION 2
During the climactic fight between Godzilla and Orga , he ( Orga ) starts chewing Godzilla's body . Shinoda says Look at that ! He's trying to become a Godzilla clone ! Katagiri says nothing , but looks away with a hilarious WTF expression .
And here is some hilarious dialogue from the movie :
DIALOGUE 1
When the military are drawing up their strategy to defeat Godzilla , the general reveals his plan to lure the giant monster into the bay where many underwater mines will be waiting . One officer asks the general what his backup plan is ( in case the mines don't stop Godzilla ) . The general explains that he has new Armor-Piercing missiles that will go through Godzilla like crap through a goose . ( LOL where do they come up with this stuff ? )
DIALOGUE 2
After the initial battle between Godzilla and the UFO ends , Miyasaka speculate about the rock's origins again :
MAN 1 - . . . Therefore I'm convinced that this vessel came from another galaxy .
MAN 2 - A visitor from outerspace ? My God , it's just too crazy to believe . ( I guessed these people hadn't seen any ' Godzilla ' movies before )
DIALOGUE 3
Katagiri is about to detonate City Tower where the UFO is hacking into the city's computers . Katagiri then learns that his old collegue , Shinoda , is still inside . Katagiri decides to proceed with the detonation on schedule , then says :
Looks like I'm gonna have to send more flowers . ( very cynical indeed ! )
( when Shinoda survives , and sees Katagiri later , he announces to Katagiri : nice try * * * hole )
DIALOGUE 4
After Godzilla defeats Orga , Yuki points this out :
Boy , that's ironic . It woke up after 60 million years and then Godzilla destroyed it .
Shinoda pauses for a second and replies Uh . . . yeah .
DIALOGUE 5
Here are the hilarious conclusions that the human stars come to at the movie's finale :
MIYASAKA : We scientists produced this monster , Godzilla . And ever since , we tried to destroy him . [ Godzilla proceeds to trash the city ]
YUKA : Then why ? Why does he keep protecting us ? [ Godzilla continues to demolish buildings ]
SHINODA : Maybe because Godzilla is inside each one of us . [ Godzilla then sprays his atomic breath at every building he sees ]
All in all , Godzilla 2000 brings back the REAL Godzilla . This movie is entertaining all-around . Yet , it won't get 5 stars because of that huge gap in the middle of the movie where no monster action occurs .
114 4 Hi , it's me . The guy who told the whole plot for Godzilla vs . Mechagodzilla II in a review for that movie . Well G2K tops THAT ( but just barely ) . This isn't just the best Godzilla movie , but also the best movie , PERIOD ! Sure Godzilla is still a man in a suit , but this movie has the best SPFX of any Godzilla movie ( except the American version , in which Godzilla himself is CGI ) . Also , this movie is the first G-movie to feature a green Godzilla . What I liked best about this film is that Toho apparently made it as a counterattack to TriStar . Let me count the ways that I noted . First of all , the UFO drawing it's energy from light is like TriStar drawing it's energy from light ( fame ) . And the way Orga steals data on Godzilla from the computers in order to create a Godzilla out of himself is like TriStar stealing Godzilla from Toho to create their own Godzilla . Also , the way Orga trys to turn himself into the real Godzilla and replace the original is like TriStar trying to make their Godzilla replace Toho's . Plus , the way Orga looks similar to the American Godzilla makes it seem like he was designed to look the way the Japanese saw TriStar's Godzilla , as an ugly monster and a disgrace to the name Godzilla ( but this is not the way I saw TriStar's Godzilla ) . Finally , the fight between Godzilla and Orga is like a face-off between Toho's and TriStar's Godzillas ( Toho's winning of course ) . With that said I would now like to bombard this film with comments . I am glad that Toho upgraded Godzilla's look . His head is leaner and more slender and his eyes give him both a sense of menace and a sleek dinosaur-like look . His back spikes are a lot bigger this time around and they're bright purple . And they really stand out thanks to their jagged look and the fact that they don't wobble back and forth like in all the other movies . Most of all , I liked his upgraded fire breath . It may not be atomic fire , but I still like it better than the old blue fire . I also like the lengthy amount of CGI used in the film . Finally , I give a thumbs up to Akira Ifukube for composing the classic theme for Godzilla 2000 .
116 4 I GOT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING GODZILLA 2000 IS A GREAT MOVIE
GODZILLA TRIES TO DESTROY ALL OF TOYKOS POWER RESORCES .
GODZILLAS LOOKS HAVE IMPROVED ALOT IS DORSAL FINS LOOK
MORE SHARPER AND HIS RAY IS MORE POWERFUL .
THE MUSIC SCORE IS GREAT AND EFFECTS LOOK AWESOME .
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT GODZILLA MOVIE .
126 4 Good morning America . - Joel Siegel
Classic Godzilla ' . . . It ` s great to have the big guy back ! - Lou Lumenick , NEW YORK POST
IT ` S BIG , IT ` S LOUD , IT ` S FUN .
Get ready to crumble ! The king of all monsters is back , bigger and much better then ever . . . The action heats up when a UFO reveals itself as a massive alien monster with awesome destructive powers . The alien monster heads straight for the behemoth Godzilla - who ` s just crushec the entire city - for the battle of the millenium . But Godzilla ` s furious heat beam may not be enough to destroy the death-dealing alien , and the future of humankind is in jeopardy . Now , it ` s a bang up , threeway , no - holds-barred brawl as Godzilla , the alien monster and the courages citizens of Japan fight for an unprecedented battle for survival in this earth-shattering new sci-fi action adventure that will blow you away !
Columbia-Tristar Pictures presents a Toho Eiga Production Godzilla 2000 Millienium starring : TAKEHIRO MURATA , NAOMI NISHIDA , HIROSHI ABE , SHIRO SANO music by TAKAYUKI HATTORI director of special effects KENJI SUZUKI executive producer SHOGO TOMIYAMA screenplay by HIROSHI KASHIWABARA & WATARU MIMURA directed by TAKAO OKAWARA
Godzilla 2000 ( aka Godzilla 2000 Millenium )
Godzilla , Orga and The Character designs are trademarks of Toho Co . , LTD . All are used with permission
Approx . 99 Minutes , Printed in USA , Colour , PG
120 4 I saw this movie in the theater the first day that it was released and as I left the theater when the film was over I had mixed feelings . I have all the Godzilla movies , toys , games imaginable , but I just couln't get into this movie . Godzilla shows up at the beginning and at the end . . . the rest of the film is spent talking about Godzilla and a stupid myserious UFO flying around Tokyo . The plot makes no sense ( even for a Godzilla movie ! ) , Orgah is the WORST monster imaginable ( I mean come on , his hands are bigger tham his body and there stiff through the entire battle scene if thats what you want to call it ) , and Godzilla easily kills this threat in seconds flat . But there are some good points to it as well . Godzilla is one of the best designs of the monster ever , he's got Super , Mega , Plasmic , Atomic Breath which destroys everything around him , the musical score is really good with classic G-marches and new music and that scene where Godzilla is underwater is totally done in CGI , which is awesome ! Although my review probably isn't the best on here , I'm just a simple kid that loves Godzilla in every shape and form . . . so I give it 4 stars . . . even though it stunk big time . If you like Godzilla , you'll enjoy Godzilla 2000 !
004 4 WOW ! I was lucky enough to see this movie in a movie theater , and I loved every minute of it , here are the reasons . The first is the Godzilla design it's fantastic , it brings back many old elements , jagged spines , mean looking eyes , huge fangs , as well as a new more life look . Second was Orga , Godzilla's opponent , he's a very strange , but cool new monster . It has long ape like arms , a face that resembles the American Godzilla , and a powerful energy beam . Third is the music it's very mysterious and fits the feel of the movie very well . Fourth are the special effects , they're FANTASTIC . The scenes with Godzilla breathing fire , Orga blasting his energy beam or regenerating , the military attack , and Godzilla swimming ( which is my favorite scene ) are all amazing , they take Godzilla films to a new level of quality . Last is the final battle it is very exciting and really fun to watch . This is Godzilla at his best , I would recommend this movie to any G-fan , Sci-Fi fan , or anyone who wants to see a great Sci-Fi film , you won't be dissapointed .
025 4 GREAT ! ! ! EXCELLENT ! ! ! OUTSTANDING ! ! ! Okay , I'm overeacting , but this movie stands out from past Godzilla movies . The new look was great and the CGI shots were a nice touch ( A first for Godzilla movies ) . The movie was good but not the best . I do hope they make the future Godzilla movies better . Still a great movie to watch . This was a review from yours truly , DC .
096 4 For a true Godzillaphile , this is a MUST SEE . After having viewed it several times , I can't help but be struck by how truly evil this creature is . The opening sequences show what a true monster , Godzilla really is . Yet , there is a certain sadness about this creature . He reminds me of Dracula when he said : Ah to be dead . . . to be truly dead . . . that . . . must be glorious ! Godzilla just keeps coming back for more . And as long as he's coming back , I'm buying . Hopefully , Roland Emmerich will take note and see what a real monster is .
Godzilla 2000 ( DVD )
Given I'm from the Raymond Burr generation of Godzilla Fans , I must say , this remake is a fire breathing blast ! ! ! My brother and I grew up on the old Godzilla films as boys . I was not that impressed with the one that starred Mathew Broderick , even though the effects were well done : I suppose my view is prejudiced by my love for the old Godzilla we all grew up on . I love Mathew's work , for the most part , especially his appearance in the movie WarGames , as well as his role in Inpector Gadget ; but lets face it , there is nothing that beats the old Godzilla formula I grew up with or the look of our dear old , handsome looking dragon .
As I think back to my own boyhood , my brother and I would often spend an afternoon building whole cities in our bedroom , using erector sets , lincoln logs , and other building type kits , while orchestrating our own play scripts and while having our stuffed animals destroy the make believe city we built in our bedroom . Loads of fun and it kept us out of our parents hair . What inspired us ; well , Godzilla , of course ! ( chuckling )
Watching this first , of the new millenium remakes , was a delight . All was very well done , for the most part , along the lines of the old Godzilla film formula . Some scenes are a little hokey , effects wise ; but it still only adds to the charm of the filming . I had hoped someday , someone would follow the old Godzilla formula , using today's special effects , and bring back our old handsome dragon to stomp all over the world again . I didn't know these films were available , until I saw them offered in the Preview section of the 2004 Astro Boy anime series . Guess I'm a little behind trying to catch up on the International film making scene these days . This film looks really great for the most part and is awesome in surround sound .
The script is nothing complex . Man has found a huge , underwater rock that floats to the surface , is really an alien ship in disguise and gives birth to a horrible looking alien creature , as big as Godzilla , that wants to take over the world . Comes Godzilla to save the day and banish this evil creature , while wiping out part of Tokyo to do the job . I have nothing against the Japanese people , but they sure do have a thing against their own city ; wanting to wipe it out all the time with a fire breathing dragon like Godzilla . ( chuckling ) In the end , Godzilla makes it clear no one messes with him , not even the head administrative official , who launches his attacks to try and destroy Godzilla throughout the film . It's clear the message with these films is that Godzilla serves a purpose : To keep mankind from averting greater dangers the Universe might throw at him , by having a mighty advocate on his side . Problem is , if you live in Tokyo , you better make sure your property insurance is paid up when this large lizard shows up !
Like the old Godzilla films , you really don't see anyone directly killed in this particular remake , except at the end ; when the head official gets his by the don't mess with me lizard he tries to destroy throughout the film . Death is always near misses in this film , so it should be great for kids to watch . It's scary , but fun . This is a nice change from all the films that show so much of death's gore and horror only all to graphically these days .
The original Japanese comes with the audio , with English subtitles , which is great and the minuture work looks even better than the old movie series . Very real looking for the most part , more crisp ; but still lots of fun , as Godzilla fights to protect and beat up Tokoyo in one fire breathing breath .
There is a short behind the scenes feature added to the DVD . It's not very long and frankly a disappointment . Even though its in Japanese , I would have liked to have had the main people interviewed , with english translations , to hear more about why this remake was finally being pursued and why this particular script was written to start off the remake series of films ; since their inception starting the year 2000 . It would have also been helpful to give some folklore behind the whole Godzilla mythology in Japanese tradition for Americans to understand better . I think the Japanese have an interesting civilization which embrace Western method and views these days , in mix with that of Chinese traditions . Such behind the scenes interviews would have been a chance for the film makers to better bridge the generation and civilization gap for young viewers eager to learn about their culture and way of thinking I should think . The commentary section of the movie is very , very good I might add . Do take time to play the movie with the commentary on . Allot of information is given .
Otherwise , the packaging is just fine . Delivery was fast ! The product arrived ahead of time . No problems with the DVD disk . In short , no complaints .
Looking forward to more romping , chomping and burning from our friend Godzilla !
001 4 Produced by Toho as a take that to the awful American remake from 1998 , I thought this Godzilla movie was really great ! I also found it much better than the bloated Series 2 ( 1984 - 1995 ) films , and to be as fun as any of the Series 1 ( 1954 - 1975 ) films ! The story was intriguing , the characters were likeable ( and thankfully fewer characters , unlike the Byzantine Series 2 characters ) , the special effects are impressive ( almost to the level of the new Gamera movies , and it even uses some CGI ! ) , there was actually more hardcore monster action ( as opposed to the in-your-face laser light shows of the recent films ) , Takayuki Hattori's music was well done for a non-Akira Ifukube score , and the movie doesn't take itself too seriously ! Godzilla here looks his best yet , and the Millennian / Orga is one of Godzilla's more bizarre adversaries !
Although the public response to this film was surprisingly positive , I was rather discouraged to hear the same words that US critics used to describe Japanese SF films past , such as cheesy and campy . Although I don't mind poking fun at Japanese SPFX , I just wish they weren't so meanspirited . Besides , old fashioned suitamation FX has been improving in Japanese films , especially with the aid of CGI ! You have to give them credit .
I was very happy to see this film in the theater ( I saw the Japanese version later on ) , and that Tri-Star brought this film to the US , partially to apologize to the US fans for that American monstrosity ! I think it's time for the US to appreciate Japanese SPFX , and maintain its fandom in the US .
In short , I reccommend this movie ! Look for it , especially on DVD !
002 4 I am glad to see that despite all the adverse influence ( Gamera , American Godzilla ) , Toho still knows how to make one hell of a big goofy movie . This may be among my favorite of the newer G films , keeping the ' plot ' at a steady pace , while featuring many other goodies we've come to know and love : intentionally bad dubbing , likable but two dimenstional characters , and a completely incomprehensible ending w / moral . Put putting all those aside , G2K actually sets some pretty high standards that actually exceed hollywood . For one , the minature work here utterly amazing . There is nothing from hollywood that really makes such an incredible use of minatures and it far surpasses and former toho efforts . In the end as Godzilla continues to torch Japan , the ruined city looks completely believable . There are of course also some great shots of Godzilla along the skyline that work tremendously well - - but as you might also expect , there are some scene you'll need to just pretend : )
The final G test though is the fun meter . Was Godzilla's entrance REALLY cool , did it have you jumping up in down in the theater ? Well maybe not , but it was great . For the non godzilla fans ( and the people who like the US version ) this may be completely lost on you and just another cheesy film , but for the those who ' get it ' and have been getting it since they were little kids , G2K is a really great entry in the big guy's 50 year oeuvre .
003 4 I was a big Godzilla fan in the 80s , when the Monster Movie of the Week seemed to play every hour of every day of the week . Although I can't precisely remember every monster and every battle , I fondly remember Godzy ( as my mom would call him , both of my parents are sci-fi fans ) beating the rubbery stuffing out of his opponents . Sometimes he had allies ( Rodan ) , sometimes he had recurring enemies ( King Ghidorah , Mechagodzilla ) and sometimes he just blew stuff up a lot .
Appreciating a Godzilla movie requires the viewer to adjust his expectations . Godzilla movies aren't about great acting , linear plots , or special effects . The Japanese movie industry understands its audience - - if you're going to buy into a gigantic atomic-breathing humanoid lizard , pretty much anything goes . Anything includes robots , aliens , robots built by aliens , size-shifting robots ( Jet Jaguar ROCKS ! ) and tiny singing faeries . And don't forget the giant moth .
Trying to make the Godzillaverse make sense is a huge mistake , as evidenced by the failure of the American version of Godzilla in theaters . There's nothing quite like creating a titanic lizard and then not giving him atomic breath because that just wouldn't make sense .
Godzilla 2000 is the Toho studio's response to the American movie . Which is to say it is both better and worse .
By the time we get to Godzilla 2000 , the big lug has been around long enough to create two rival investigating forces . On the good guy side we have the Godzilla Prediction Network ( GPN ) led by Shinoda ( Takehiro Murata ) and his daughter Io ( Mayu Suzuki ) . The GPN team ( if you can call them that ) is accompanied by Yuki ( Naomi Nishida ) , who is trying to get a good picture of Godzilla for the local newspaper . Ironically , nobody can get a good close-up of Godzilla because he emits enough radiation to ruin photography . Which really does make one wonder . . . shouldn't just being in proximity to Godzilla fry every human being in a hundred mile radius ?
The bad guys consist of the Crisis Control Intelligence ( CCI ) agency , led by Katagiri ( Hiroshi Abe ) . The two groups have a bit of history : Shinoda used to work for the CCI before he left due to their violent tendencies . Where GPN seeks to examine and understand Godzilla for the good of mankind , the CCI wants to blow him up into big , radioactive chunks .
If you haven't figured it out yet , much of the movie centers on this philosophical argument as to how to treat Godzilla . It's pretty clear that Godzilla doesn't care either way , as he comes rampaging ashore in a quest to find Japan's power sources . Why ? Because in a not very subtle way , Godzilla is a parallel for the dangers of atomic weapons . At least he was , when Godzilla first graced the screen . Godzilla is the result of our warmongering and he retaliates with a vengeance by attacking atomic plants .
The CCI takes the direct approach , accepting any human casualties that might be necessary to take Godzilla head on . Tanks , mines , armor-piercing missiles . . . none of it works , because Godzilla regenerates at incredibly high speed . That little tidbit of information greatly interests the GPN , who names Godzilla's DNA ( Regenerator - 1 ) and seeks to use it to save humanity . Well , maybe eventually . In another movie .
The unearthing of a meteorite by the CCI eventually interrupts Godzilla's rampage . Sure enough , the meterorite , which is millions of years old , awakens when touched by light . And that meteor is in reality an alien spacecraft with DNA mimicking capabilities . It immediately makes a beeline for Godzilla .
This alien being / ship is known as Orga , and it goes through several phases . First it starts out as a particularly feminine looking saucer . Then it transforms , for about thirty seconds , into a large jellyfish . This scene is so short and irrelevant to the movie that it seems like something was cut . Finally , Orga turns into a big guy in a rubber suit . And then we're back to the Godzilla movies from the 80s , where guys in suits slap each other silly until one of them falls down .
Godzilla has been redesigned for this film to make him look more feral looking . For the most part , it works . His dorsal spikes are particularly vicious , his fangs jut out over his lips , and his eyes are perpetually fixed in a cruel glare . Orga , on the other hand , looks ridiculous . He's a big , floppy-fisted monster with barely enough motion to move his gigantic oversized claws .
I never appreciated the physical acting required for Godzilla . When it's a rubber suit , the emotion that can be conveyed must be over-the-top pantomiming . This actor doesn't have it .
Godzilla has arms . Past Godzilla movies have made sure Godzilla ripped things apart with his claws , mauled his opponents , or twitched in agitation . This version of Godzilla doesn't have much to do but sort of wave his arms around slightly . It makes him look pretty foolish when he's trying to be scary or in pain or .
The other problem , and this is a big one , is how Godzilla uses his breath weapon . In other Godzilla movies , he reared backwards and you got the sense that breathing atomic fire took a lot of effort . When the flames blew out of his mouth , it seemed like a true exhalation of atomic destruction . In this movie , Godzilla looks vaguely constipated , waves his head about , and then the flames sort of fall out of his mouth .
Throughout the first half of the movie there is some amusing dialogue ( or at least , amusing translations ) , some real moments of tension , and a lot of human stupidity . During the second half , the humans pretty much stand around and watch the city get blown up real good .
Of all the characters , Katagiri steals the show . When staring down Godzilla eye-to-eye , Katagiri simply lights a cigarette and says I've never been this close to Godzilla before . But as well all know , nobody stares Godzilla in the eye and walks away without glowing .
The movie spirals into bizarre territory at the end , with Orga trying to absorb Godzilla , who strangely complies ( there's a whole Orga / female Godzilla / male thing going on too , ICK ) . Scientists spout about Regenerator - 1 genes , military generals philosophize about aliens from outer space , and Shinoda tells his daughter in a voice over about how Godzilla keeps protecting humanity because there's a little bit of him in all of us . . .
Meanwhile , in the background , Godzilla sets the entire city ablaze with his radioactive breath .
This movie is more like two movies , bridging the original Godzilla film with the later Monsterama battles that Godzilla has become known for . In fact , it's more a homage to all the Godzilla films that went before . All in all , a worthy successor to the Godzilla series and certainly more respectful of its origins than the American version .
005 4 This review is from :
Godzilla 2000 ( DVD )
In one of the first scenes of the movie you have lighthouse keeper 100 feet in the sky looking out to see the prow of a ship moving across outside the window . What is a ship doing floating 1000 feet in the air ? ? He looks puzzled as the ship slowly moves across the field of vision then teeth , then . . . . the man !
As soon as I saw that I knew this movie was something special .
Oh yeah this is good . This is really really good . A must for all Godzilla fans . You gotta have it .
The old boy never looked so good . A brandy new suit design , wicked looking spines , animatronic head , and state of the art model work make this movie a jewel for all of us who've enjoyed seeing the old boy through the years .
I'm so glad I bought this one . It's the best of the best . Toho at its pinnacle of Godzilla-dom .
I love it .
006 4 In one of the first scenes of the movie you have lighthouse keeper 100 feet in the sky looking out to see the prow of a ship moving across outside the window . What is a ship doing floating 1000 feet in the air ? ? He looks puzzled as the ship slowly moves across the field of vision then teeth , then . . . . the man !
As soon as I saw that I knew this movie was something special .
Oh yeah this is good . This is really really good . A must for all Godzilla fans . You gotta have it .
The old boy never looked so good . A brandy new suit design , wicked looking spines , animatronic head , and state of the art model work make this movie a jewel for all of us who've enjoyed seeing the old boy through the years .
I'm so glad I bought this one . It's the best of the best . Toho at its pinnacle of Godzilla-dom .
I love it .
008 4 This review is from :
Godzilla 2000 ( DVD )
Ok , I'll admit it . When I was a kid I LIVED for Saturday morning sci-fi theater type programs and always hoped for a good Godzilla movie to be featured . Well , I haven't kept up with the lore and movies but I will watch one when I see it on late night tv here and there . I can't explain it because the movies ARE undeniably cheesey , but there's just something about the big lizard that I like . : ) Now , I got this movie to see if it was possible that the newer movies had progressed to the point where they would be cool AND not cheesy . This doesn't disappoint !
Of course , the lip synching is still there and that was always part of the charm of the older movies in my opinion . Other than that however , I was actually impressed . This movie doesn't look like a guy in a lizard suit tromping around . It looked like I always WISHED it would look as a kid . I found this movie to have the best elements of all the old classics but the special effects and realism that you'd hope for in a 21st century movie . Don't tell anyone , but I LIKED this movie ! : )
009 4 Ok , I'll admit it . When I was a kid I LIVED for Saturday morning sci-fi theater type programs and always hoped for a good Godzilla movie to be featured . Well , I haven't kept up with the lore and movies but I will watch one when I see it on late night tv here and there . I can't explain it because the movies ARE undeniably cheesey , but there's just something about the big lizard that I like . : ) Now , I got this movie to see if it was possible that the newer movies had progressed to the point where they would be cool AND not cheesy . This doesn't disappoint !
Of course , the lip synching is still there and that was always part of the charm of the older movies in my opinion . Other than that however , I was actually impressed . This movie doesn't look like a guy in a lizard suit tromping around . It looked like I always WISHED it would look as a kid . I found this movie to have the best elements of all the old classics but the special effects and realism that you'd hope for in a 21st century movie . Don't tell anyone , but I LIKED this movie ! : )
010 4 This was a nice return to classic Godzilla after the American version was made . The story is about aliens trying to take over the world and Godzilla is the only thing keeping them from world domination . Yeah , this idea has been used more than enough times in the Godzilla series , but it doesn't hurt this movie at all . In the movie , you never actually see the aliens but you do get to see the monster they unleash on Tokyo called Orga . It's a nasty looking lizard creature that is really cool . The special effects are beyond compare when it comes to Godzilla movies . A lot of computer special fx were used in this movie . The UFO and Orga for the most part was all computer generated . Godzilla wasn't because all the fans like it better that way . Godzilla went back to being a bad guy in this movie , which is the way it should be , Gamera can take care of being the good monster of Japan , let Godzilla be bad ! Overall really good , all fans will love this movie , and it will make a lot of new fans also !
011 4 VIDEO QUALITY :
The release presented the film in it's original 2.35 : 1 , and featured anamorphic enhancement . Colours were consistently vivid , and the overall look of the film was much sharper and brighter than any other DVD release . The brightness appeared to have been boosted during the night scenes ( in particular the final battle ) which helped a lot - the original Japanese print was so dark you could barely make anything out . Sadly , these enhancements also bring about grain that covers every scene of the film , and on occasion some mild artifacting . Overall though , it looks much nicer than any other release of the film .
AUDIO QUALITY :
The disc features three dubbing tracks , English 2.0 , English 5.1 , and French 2.0 . All the of the tracks sound great , and the English 5.1 is outstanding . Sadly , there is no trace of the original Japanese audio . The quality of what you do get is still great though .
EXTRA FEATURES :
First and foremost in my opinion is the audio commentary from writer / producer Mike Schlesinger , editor Michael Mahoney supervising sound editor Darren Paskal , who worked on this US version of the film . It's a great commentary , very fun to listen to , and very informative about the editing decisions that were made for the film's US release . You'll also find 2 minutes of special effects behind the scenes features . Other extras include talent files for director Takao Okawara and Godzilla himself , as well as theatrical trailers for Godzilla 2000 , Godzilla ( 1998 ) and Anaconda . It may not be chocker blocked with features , but what's there is excellent .
OVERALL :
Virtually the best video quality you'll find for this film , and the 5.1 audio sounds lovely . It's a shame that the disc lacks the original Japanese cut with Japanese audio , as was promised , though that boils down to Sony , Toho and release schedules . Basically Toho took so long to get off their asses and release it on DVD in Japan ( over a year since the film's initial release ) that they were reluctant to give Sony the uncut version with Japanese audio in fear that many Japanese would buy the much cheaper American alternative , and at the same time Sony understandably didn't want to miss out on a Christmas release for their disc . In any case you can still enjoy the film for what it is , and packed with the guys audio commentary it's not a disc you want to be passing up any time soon .
012 4 This review is from :
Godzilla 2000 ( DVD )
Given I'm from the Raymond Burr generation of Godzilla Fans , I must say , this remake is a fire breathing blast ! ! ! My brother and I grew up on the old Godzilla films as boys . I was not that impressed with the one that starred Mathew Broderick , even though the effects were well done : I suppose my view is prejudiced by my love for the old Godzilla we all grew up on . I love Mathew's work , for the most part , especially his appearance in the movie WarGames , as well as his role in Inpector Gadget ; but lets face it , there is nothing that beats the old Godzilla formula I grew up with or the look of our dear old , handsome looking dragon .
As I think back to my own boyhood , my brother and I would often spend an afternoon building whole cities in our bedroom , using erector sets , lincoln logs , and other building type kits , while orchestrating our own play scripts and while having our stuffed animals destroy the make believe city we built in our bedroom . Loads of fun and it kept us out of our parents hair . What inspired us ; well , Godzilla , of course ! ( chuckling )
Watching this first , of the new millenium remakes , was a delight . All was very well done , for the most part , along the lines of the old Godzilla film formula . Some scenes are a little hokey , effects wise ; but it still only adds to the charm of the filming . I had hoped someday , someone would follow the old Godzilla formula , using today's special effects , and bring back our old handsome dragon to stomp all over the world again . I didn't know these films were available , until I saw them offered in the Preview section of the 2004 Astro Boy anime series . Guess I'm a little behind trying to catch up on the International film making scene these days . This film looks really great for the most part and is awesome in surround sound .
The script is nothing complex . Man has found a huge , underwater rock that floats to the surface , is really an alien ship in disguise and gives birth to a horrible looking alien creature , as big as Godzilla , that wants to take over the world . Comes Godzilla to save the day and banish this evil creature , while wiping out part of Tokyo to do the job . I have nothing against the Japanese people , but they sure do have a thing against their own city ; wanting to wipe it out all the time with a fire breathing dragon like Godzilla . ( chuckling ) In the end , Godzilla makes it clear no one messes with him , not even the head administrative official , who launches his attacks to try and destroy Godzilla throughout the film . It's clear the message with these films is that Godzilla serves a purpose : To keep mankind from averting greater dangers the Universe might throw at him , by having a mighty advocate on his side . Problem is , if you live in Tokyo , you better make sure your property insurance is paid up when this large lizard shows up !
Like the old Godzilla films , you really don't see anyone directly killed in this particular remake , except at the end ; when the head official gets his by the don't mess with me lizard he tries to destroy throughout the film . Death is always near misses in this film , so it should be great for kids to watch . It's scary , but fun . This is a nice change from all the films that show so much of death's gore and horror only all to graphically these days .
The original Japanese comes with the audio , with English subtitles , which is great and the minuture work looks even better than the old movie series . Very real looking for the most part , more crisp ; but still lots of fun , as Godzilla fights to protect and beat up Tokoyo in one fire breathing breath .
There is a short behind the scenes feature added to the DVD . It's not very long and frankly a disappointment . Even though its in Japanese , I would have liked to have had the main people interviewed , with english translations , to hear more about why this remake was finally being pursued and why this particular script was written to start off the remake series of films ; since their inception starting the year 2000 . It would have also been helpful to give some folklore behind the whole Godzilla mythology in Japanese tradition for Americans to understand better . I think the Japanese have an interesting civilization which embrace Western method and views these days , in mix with that of Chinese traditions . Such behind the scenes interviews would have been a chance for the film makers to better bridge the generation and civilization gap for young viewers eager to learn about their culture and way of thinking I should think . The commentary section of the movie is very , very good I might add . Do take time to play the movie with the commentary on . Allot of information is given .
Otherwise , the packaging is just fine . Delivery was fast ! The product arrived ahead of time . No problems with the DVD disk . In short , no complaints .
Looking forward to more romping , chomping and burning from our friend Godzilla !
013 4 Given I'm from the Raymond Burr generation of Godzilla Fans , I must say , this remake is a fire breathing blast ! ! ! My brother and I grew up on the old Godzilla films as boys . I was not that impressed with the one that starred Mathew Broderick , even though the effects were well done : I suppose my view is prejudiced by my love for the old Godzilla we all grew up on . I love Mathew's work , for the most part , especially his appearance in the movie WarGames , as well as his role in Inpector Gadget ; but lets face it , there is nothing that beats the old Godzilla formula I grew up with or the look of our dear old , handsome looking dragon .
As I think back to my own boyhood , my brother and I would often spend an afternoon building whole cities in our bedroom , using erector sets , lincoln logs , and other building type kits , while orchestrating our own play scripts and while having our stuffed animals destroy the make believe city we built in our bedroom . Loads of fun and it kept us out of our parents hair . What inspired us ; well , Godzilla , of course ! ( chuckling )
Watching this first , of the new millenium remakes , was a delight . All was very well done , for the most part , along the lines of the old Godzilla film formula . Some scenes are a little hokey , effects wise ; but it still only adds to the charm of the filming . I had hoped someday , someone would follow the old Godzilla formula , using today's special effects , and bring back our old handsome dragon to stomp all over the world again . I didn't know these films were available , until I saw them offered in the Preview section of the 2004 Astro Boy anime series . Guess I'm a little behind trying to catch up on the International film making scene these days . This film looks really great for the most part and is awesome in surround sound .
The script is nothing complex . Man has found a huge , underwater rock that floats to the surface , is really an alien ship in disguise and gives birth to a horrible looking alien creature , as big as Godzilla , that wants to take over the world . Comes Godzilla to save the day and banish this evil creature , while wiping out part of Tokyo to do the job . I have nothing against the Japanese people , but they sure do have a thing against their own city ; wanting to wipe it out all the time with a fire breathing dragon like Godzilla . ( chuckling ) In the end , Godzilla makes it clear no one messes with him , not even the head administrative official , who launches his attacks to try and destroy Godzilla throughout the film . It's clear the message with these films is that Godzilla serves a purpose : To keep mankind from averting greater dangers the Universe might throw at him , by having a mighty advocate on his side . Problem is , if you live in Tokyo , you better make sure your property insurance is paid up when this large lizard shows up !
Like the old Godzilla films , you really don't see anyone directly killed in this particular remake , except at the end ; when the head official gets his by the don't mess with me lizard he tries to destroy throughout the film . Death is always near misses in this film , so it should be great for kids to watch . It's scary , but fun . This is a nice change from all the films that show so much of death's gore and horror only all to graphically these days .
The original Japanese comes with the audio , with English subtitles , which is great and the minuture work looks even better than the old movie series . Very real looking for the most part , more crisp ; but still lots of fun , as Godzilla fights to protect and beat up Tokoyo in one fire breathing breath .
There is a short behind the scenes feature added to the DVD . It's not very long and frankly a disappointment . Even though its in Japanese , I would have liked to have had the main people interviewed , with english translations , to hear more about why this remake was finally being pursued and why this particular script was written to start off the remake series of films ; since their inception starting the year 2000 . It would have also been helpful to give some folklore behind the whole Godzilla mythology in Japanese tradition for Americans to understand better . I think the Japanese have an interesting civilization which embrace Western method and views these days , in mix with that of Chinese traditions . Such behind the scenes interviews would have been a chance for the film makers to better bridge the generation and civilization gap for young viewers eager to learn about their culture and way of thinking I should think . The commentary section of the movie is very , very good I might add . Do take time to play the movie with the commentary on . Allot of information is given .
Otherwise , the packaging is just fine . Delivery was fast ! The product arrived ahead of time . No problems with the DVD disk . In short , no complaints .
Looking forward to more romping , chomping and burning from our friend Godzilla !
014 4 This review is from :
Godzilla 2000 ( DVD )
Godzilla 2000 is Japan's answer to the American Godzilla . Thank you Japan . In this movie Godzilla gets into a fight with a UFO found in the ocean , which crash landed millions of years ago . But now it has been activated and wants one thing - Godzilla's DNA . With his genes the life force within the spaceship can take form , can create a body of flesh and blood , and take over the planet Earth .
Extras include a behind the scenes feature , the movie trailer and commentary by the staff that prepared the movie for the English-speaking viewers .
015 4 Godzilla 2000 is Japan's answer to the American Godzilla . Thank you Japan . In this movie Godzilla gets into a fight with a UFO found in the ocean , which crash landed millions of years ago . But now it has been activated and wants one thing - Godzilla's DNA . With his genes the life force within the spaceship can take form , can create a body of flesh and blood , and take over the planet Earth .
Extras include a behind the scenes feature , the movie trailer and commentary by the staff that prepared the movie for the English-speaking viewers .
016 4 In an enormously entertaining new outing , Japan's famous not-so-jolly green giant returns in all his glory to once again trash ( miniature ) Tokyo .
Proving point positive that if you want the real deal , you have to go the source ; in this case Toho Studios , the true guardian of the Godzilla legend . Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin's thunderously dull and dispiriting Americanized 1998 version ( though technically impressive ) only proves this point - Toho KNOWS Godzilla , and delivers in this new film all that makes Godzilla movies great .
Though it certainly doesn't match the seamless digital effects work on the American version , this film revitalizes Japan's most deliriously entertaining export with true verve and infectuous fun . It's all here . . . horrendous dubbing ( though on the DVD the option is thankfully offered to view the film in its original language , with subtitles - watch the dubbed version first , though - its hilarious ) , third-rate special effects , and a bizarre storyline in which nothing is off limits .
All of it is awesome , possessing a huge amount of everything the American version lacked - genuine charm . While the film does contain a few scenes by director Takao Okawara that clearly attempt to mimic ( or maybe parody ? ) Emmerich and Devlin's Independence Day and Godzilla , these are ill-advised . Independence Day did not win an Oscar for Best Visual Effects for nothing , and their version of Godzilla , however awful it may otherwise be , was visually and technically miles above this film . That being said however , it is impossible not to get into the spirit of fun this movie was clearly intended to be in .
Toho is now making use of digital effects , and some are unbelievably awful , but most work in the best B-movie way . Case in point , in one of those wonderfully trancendent moments in gloriously bad movies , is when Godzilla finally unviels his new , CGI-created radioactive breath . The scene comes about a third of the way into the film as he faces off against a giant spaceship , the supposed occupants of which are attempting to steal the big guy's power of spontaneous regeneration . Up until this point , Godzilla has not unleashed his most famous trait . . . and here finally does in a spectacularly staged scene that is utterly sublime .
This new rebirth of the legendary lizard is wonderfully perfect in all its B-level awfulness , and a welcome and totally fun return to monster movies that are still made , for the most part , the old fashioned way .
018 4 Traditional Godzilla , clad in rubber . Just the way the fans want him to stay . His firey breath and glowing spine have been updated . . .
. . . I sort of miss the old Godzilla . . . you almost expect this updated version to do a Pepsi commercial or something .
Nonetheless , a great movie . I'm just gonna get to the meat'n taters - - Godzilla fights a partially computer animated alien .
And wins . I never pay any attention to the sub-plot of these movies . They beat the hell out of each other and make the city of Tokyo icky . . . and that's it . But who can't appreciate monsters wailing on each other . YOU ? . . okay , that's quite understandable , but I recommend this movie anyway : it's nice .
019 4 A duo of Godzilla chasers ( a guy and his daughter ) team up with a reporter to get pictures of our favorite reptile . Needless to say , Godzilla's on another rampage of mega-destruction ! Meanwhile , a strange meteorite splashes down in the ocean nearby ( why does all the cool stuff happen only in Japan ? ) . A group of scientists attempt to raise the big rock from the depths , only to find that it rises under it's own power ! The meteorite floats and soon flies away ! This would be fine if the military hadn't just used their brand new bunkerbuster - type missiles to pierce Godzilla's skin in hopes of killing him once and for all . Oopsy ! Turns out that the flying rock is actually an alien intelligence bent on taking over the world . It soon sheds it's mineral exterior to reveal a shiny UFO . Landing atop the tallest building in Tokyo , it begins absorbing all of the data from all computer systems . What does it want ? It wants the secrets of Godzilla's regenerative abilities so it can assimilate them . Thankfully , Big G returns just in time to battle the invader . The rest is one of the best Godzilla vs . evil monster confrontations ever ! I loved it ! My 7yo son loved every minute and that's all that matters anyway . . .
020 4 I was soooooo happy to see this one come out . I really love the old Godzilla movies . They were so fake , probably cheeply done and just hillariuos ! This one is no different . Just as fake , and just as fun . Every single time I watch this , or any other Godzilla ( except for that piece of garbage made in 1998 with Matthew Broderick ) I know I'm in for a fun night . I would highly recommend this movie to any Godzilla fan !
021 4 It is difficult to say just which Godzilla film is the best , since the Japanese film industry keeps making them . However , Godzilla 2000 is arguably the best effort released in the United States to date . It is the first to see a major theatrical release in America in about 14 years , and after seeing it again on DVD , it is clear that this is deservedly so . It may be considered a landmark G film ( just my opinion ) .
I find it necessary to make some brief asides before going further :
1 ) Godzilla 2000 did not recycle any effects / audio , including the monster's roar , from the 1998 U.S . picture . This is obvious from listening to the soundtrack , even more so from the director's commentary , which states the fact outright .
2 ) As a classic Godzilla fan , I prefer the Japanese version , but do not think the U.S . version [ smelled . ] What would have been the point of an American version if they had simply copied the Japanese one ?
3 ) High-tech Special Effects alone do not make a movie , . . . I'd have to recommend this film to anyone who loves Godzilla and / or action / adventure / Sci-Fi .
- To those who complain about the dubbing : get a life ! : )
No matter how much many of us hardcore film fans would prefer the original films with sub-tittles , the majority of film-goers ( the ones who pay the bills as far as Hollywood is concerned ) do not , and the industry knows this . And with the advent of DVD regional coding , getting the genuine foreign version of a film DVD like this will apparently soon be a thing of the past , unless you want to own two or three different DVD players . The dubbing is not that bad , and as long as the dubbed versions continue to try and make a concerted effort , as was done with Godzilla 2000 , I think fans / filmgoers can live with it .
The special effects in this film were great , not as perfect as pure CGI films , but also not as sterile , and much more life-like in many ways .
The Japanese have found a great niche in combining traditional miniature effects ( the trademark of the Japanese Giant Monster genre ) with CGI to polish up the overall look of the film .
Many will complain that these films aren't realistic enough .
. . . Big monsters , Big explosions , people running for their lives . The plot is more than enough for a Godzilla film , and the whole experience is good clean fun .
Summary :
In a nutshell , this film has more of what's likeable about Godzilla films , and less of what isn't , than any of its predecessors .
If you like Godzilla / Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Action-Adventure films , get it ! !
If you don't , ignore it , and save those of us who do the trouble of hearing how much you hated it . . .
023 4 This is just plain awesome . Godzilla looks totally awesome and fights a giant UFO which turns out to be an evil alien space monster . In the beggining Godzilla can't beat this UFO ! Later near the end of the movie , the UFO reveals itself as an evil alien space monster as I mentioned . A great Godzilla movie .
024 4 The big man is back and hes better than ever Godzilla came back to find out that he will be fight anther bad guy an alien named Orga hes proboly Godzillas biggest villin yet literaley he changes from a spaceship to a squid thiney then his final stage .
026 4 Better than the NEW YORK GODZILLA ! You have to be on crack to like the American Godzilla . I just hated that i had no idea where this movie left off . Godzilla appears out of nowhere and fights an alien . . the end . . . . . i don't get it . . . do you people ? Wheres the story ? But oh well becuasei t had moments like the orginal series and better effects . At Least Toho is slowly improving . Yet one side of me liked it when toho's movies were crappy looking . . . . . . hmmmm . . . . . .
027 4 It saddens me to know that some of not most Godzilla fans find this movie to be average . But that's their opinion . I really believe that this is one if not the best Godzilla movie in the series !
The human drama is excellent ! The monster battles are colorful and the special effects are a drastic improvement ! The only thing that bothers me is that Orga's hands are so huge that they look immovable and fake . Oh well . That's really the only flaw that I will complain about . Long live Godzilla !
028 4 This is probably the most revealing of all the Godzilla movies and makes the most sense regarding his powers . The utter destruction he can wreak on the alien with his tremendous fire breath and his regenerative abilities both are very consistent with the story behind Godzilla's abilities as a monster .
He is practically indestructable because of his amazing regenerative cells and his nearly-impenetrable shielding skin / armour . Also , the power he can pack into his fire breath is what people have come to expect from a super being like Godzilla .
On the more humourous side , we also learn - once and for all - that you DON'T get Godzilla mad as does the alien after their first encounter . Godzilla simply comes back , angrier , meaner and more cunning than ever ; he can adapt and learn from his previous mistakes and fights and teaches this meteor thing or whatever it is , a damned lesson : You can't just expect to have the power and spirit of Godzilla by taking some skin cells from him and taking his form . Godzilla is bigger than the sum his parts BY FAR !
A great movie . Toho is finally making Godzilla stories which live up to the reputation of the very monster they created - an indestructable ( or nearly indestructable as Godzilla can be badly hurt as we have already seen ) super monster , created by human monstrosity ( i.e . nuclear radiation resulting from atomic testing ) , come back to destroy humanity and all sources of the pollution which caused Godzilla to come into existence in the first place ; almost like a modern-day version of the Frankenstein monster , except that the creature created by Frankenstein was initially a humble , innocent , beautiful , child-like human being not meaning any harm . Whereas Godzilla is destructive right from the start . . .
Enjoy !
029 4 I was glad to see the REAL Godzilla in a movie and not the Americanized version from the Matthew Broderick flick . The Japanese Godzilla was nice to see and the movie is fun enough to harken back to the old days but I was somewhat disappointed .
The DVD's image quality is really great . Presented in the original 2.35 : 1 aspect ratio that I so dearly love , the film looks beautiful with beautiful and bold colors and excellent detail levels . The audio options are for a 5.1 surround or 2.0 English dubs only . No original Japanese soundtrack w / English subtitles , which is how I prefer to watch these flicks .
Also included is a commentary track by the producer / WRITER of the American version . In in he reveals the differences between the two versions , including cutting 9 minutes of footage out of the US release . I would have like to have seen the original film as its director intended , leaving me a bit cold overall .
All in all though it isn't a bad movie , just not the original . I'd still recommend it .
030 4 Forget Matthew Broderick ! This Japanese movie has the REAL Godzilla that those of us who were kids in the 60s grew up with and love , as well as the familiar Godzilla music and themes . In the spirit , presumably , of Independence Day this movie spoofs a number of famous scf-fi classics such as : Independence Day , War of the Worlds , Superman , The Day the Earth Stood Still , Alien , and especially , Twister . A disillusioned young Japanese scientist has resigned from his academic career to found the Godzilla Prediction Network , which he runs with the help of his smart as a whip ( approximately ) 10 year old daughter . They are joined by a young , ambitious , Japanese woman journalist who believes that they can help her advance her career with a scoop about Godzilla . Meanwhile , the Japanese government has discovered a giant meteor at the bottom of the sea and attempts to raise it . Well , you can well imagine what's gonna happen . I predict that traditional Godzilla fans will enjoy this movie .
032 4 As the first real Godzilla film I saw in the theater ( I had seen Godzilla 98 and was one of the rare people who liked it ) this film blew me away . Well the DVD manages to capture that same effect . This is the best Godzilla film in years with a great story with well developed characters , ( whiny but loveable Yuki , wonderfuly evil Kataguiri ) as good as it gets dubbing , and special effects that for a kaigu film fall short only to G - 98 . The Godzilla suit looks better than ever . The monsters actually manage to capture recognizable facial expressions at points . The breath effect is fantastic . It doesn't even bother me that it's no longer blue . The widescreen presentation is a must for this film . The audio commentary provides a real cool look inside the film . All in all this movie has everything we watch Godzilla movies for and then some . A definate must for any G fan ! I love it and am anxiously awaiting Godzilla vs . Megaguirus !
033 4 Godzilla 2000 is the welcomed and much anticipated return of the classic Godzilla . This is the old-fashioned way , and , indeed , the best way of making kaiju eiga ( giant monster movies ) . Traditional and time-tested techniques have been enhanced with the latest digital technology and CGI . The Godzilla design , known in fandom circles as the Mire-Goji , is simply awesome . The composite shots of Godzilla'a raid early on in the film are very convincing . Godzilla 2000 contains some of the best SPFX of the entire series . The actors turn in inspired performances and the result is that we actually care about what happens to them . Although the main character is Godzilla himself , the relationships between the various leads grow and evolve and are authentically and convincingly portrayed . The battle bewteen Godzilla and the Alien / Millennian is one of the best monster battles in several years .
I left the theatre smiling after having seen one of the most refreshing and well-crafted giant monster movies in a long time . The re-scoring of the film by Peter Robinson was excellent and added greatly to the scenes of Godzilla confronting the military and the final fight to the finish with his monster antagonist .
Great , stunning visuals , convincing , even charming human portrayals and titantic battles puncutate this most enjoyable movie experience .
034 4 This is a great kaiju film . It's got a decent plot , lots of action , and interesting characters . Godzilla gets to be the good guy in this one ( though that's only because he's the lesser of two evils ) .
The stars of any kaiju film are the montsters themselves , and here we get a great matchup . Godzilla , always great , and Orga , a worthy challenger . Orga is cool because he has many forms and many different types of attacks . He really gives Godzilla a run for his money . There final fight is truly spectacular with terrific special effects and a fantastic final deathblow that is one of the best ( perhaps the best ) in Godzilla history .
You don't need to know anything about Godzilla to enjoy this film . It pretty much stands on its own . I recommend it for anyone looking for a strong introduction to the Big Guy .
Very entertaining .
035 4 This is the 23rd film Godzilla has appeared in , not including the USA version , GODZILLA ( 1998 ) , with Matthew Broderick .
I have always enjoyed a good Godzilla film . I used to watch some of them on KTLA channel 5 ( Los Angeles Independent station ) when I was a young boy . I especially got a kick out of the son of Godzilla and the ring of bad breath . The godzilla roar is always fun to hear .
In this film , Godzilla looks meaner , bigger , taller , sharper teeth and a big mouth like he has eaten too many cars . Still the same English dubbing and I like that new modern film Japan is using . The old films looked grainy .
What stays the same is that Godzilla is still played by a man in a costume destroying a miniture Tokyo .
A man officially tracks down Godzilla . he is part of the Godzilla Prediction Network Mobile Unit . Godzilla , of course , resurfaces and destroys Tokyo trying to get to every energy source he can . He still likes to break ships in half too . The military has invented a new missle that could penetrate through any material . It will go through Godzilla like crap . There is also a flying giant slab of rock to deal with too . It flies like a UFO that can actually knock Godzilla on his butt . Many more surprises .
The next films in the series :
Godzilla vs . Megaguiras ( 2001 )
Godzilla , Mothra and King Ghidorah : Giant Monsters All-Out Attack . ( 2001 )
Godzilla vs . Mechagodzilla ( 2002 )
Godzilla vs . Mothra vs . Mechagodzilla : Tokyo S.O.S . ( 2004 )
Godzilla : Final Wars ( 2004 ) will be released in Hollywood , California USA on November 29 , 2004 . Released in Japan , December 4 , 2004 . It has been reported that this will be the last Godzilla film for now due to the fact there are no new fans . TOHO Co . will stop making them .
036 4 Godzilla is one of those shamelessly bad movies is still quite hilarious . Beyond the incredulous script ( Godzilla is a hundred feet tall ; why can no one find him ? ) , the stupid slap-stick jokes , the big rubber suit trampling miniature buildings and fighting a UFO , there's really nothing to it . The characters are ultra flat , the dialogue is retarded , and the special effects are embarrassing .
But that's really not the point , is it ? So long as it's not taken seriously , the movie is really quite fun . The actors are a scream ; simply saying I am scared or I am happy would be more subtle than their facial expressions . The preposterous dialogue is often rip-roaring . Many of the action scenes are strangely gripping , and it's almost sad seeing the weirdly cute Godzilla suit get smashed by missiles . ( Oh , there's a hilarious line where the general says the army's new missile will go through Godzilla like crap through a goose . ) There's problems though . The movie probably could have been a bit shorter . Intuitive editing could have removed several scenes which just seem to repeat themselves . The middle of the movie also puts little emphasis on Godzilla , concentrating more on the UFO brought up from the bottom of the ocean . Too bad , since Godzilla should be the star . Also , the final battle was a little too long .
The movie gets an extra star just for the ridiculous and dumb line at the end . Why does Godzilla protect us ? Maybe there is a bit of Godzilla in each one of us . Eww boy . I had to rewind the tape and be sure that's what had actually been said . Funny stuff .
037 4 This review is from :
Godzilla 2000 ( DVD )
It's been five years since the release of Godzilla vs . Destroyer and Godzilla is back better than ever . A sleek new look , the use of both puppets and 3 - d graphics , and a menacing monster foe makes this godzilla movie one of the best in the series . If you didnt see it in theaters , pick up a copy now .
038 4 It's been five years since the release of Godzilla vs . Destroyer and Godzilla is back better than ever . A sleek new look , the use of both puppets and 3 - d graphics , and a menacing monster foe makes this godzilla movie one of the best in the series . If you didnt see it in theaters , pick up a copy now .
039 4 My Grandsons truly enjoyed this
Godzilla 2000
DVD , so did I ! But I get a bigger Kick watching my Grandsons enjoy all of the Godzilla Movies that I have purchased for their collection !
040 4 Let me start off by saying that I have seen , as of writing this , I have rather recently seen fourteen Godzilla titles . I've seen some good ones and some bad ones ( Space Godzilla anyone ? ) And then I saw this .
Let's start with the bad . The CG puts film-making back quite a few years . The space-ship reminded me of a badly-rendered ship from Flight of the Navigator . The millennium Godzilla-suit is a little jarring at first . Why isn't his beam blue ? Some of the compositing was both daring , bold , and badly-done . The DVD is dubbed . If you read the one-star reviews , this seems to have been a problem for some .
Now for the good : Good story , great pacing , formidable acting . The miniatures they used for this movie were really spectacular . Lots of great effects shots . After Orga gets out of his CG-stage , he's a pleasure to look at . The movie's got a great feel to it . The ending is simply magnificent . The overall movie has a new and unique feel to it - - rather like Godzilla vs . Megaguirus , which was by the same director - - and it's always good to see something new come from something old . Also of note , while this is a dubbed version , there are a few comical lines . It's rather refreshing to see that , and I know there are those out there who don't agree .
For those Godzilla fans who can't stand a little humor , if you look back at Mothra vs . Godzilla in the 60s , there were a few memorable somewhat-comical moments in that , too ( involving a minor character's obsession with eggs , if I recall correctly ) .
You might have noticed that this isn't a five-star review . This was Toho's answer to the unfortunate American Tristar Godzilla . I believe some of the over-use of computer-generated imagery might have been a result of this . I would have loved to give it five-stars , but some of the CG scenes involving Orga were just too ambitious and it detracted from an otherwise-great movie .
This is a must-see , especially since it's the first in the millennium series . If you like the Godzilla films , this is one that's great to own . Otherwise , it's definitely worth renting .
041 4 This is the best godzilla movie I have ever seen . The special effects are mostly hand done , and mostly amazing . All of the scenes with godzilla are epic and scary . Godzilla is portrayed well . The movie has a slower pace compared to movies of today , but its very watchable , and also very bizarre in spots . The supporting characters are also cool . There might be a hint of Twister and Independence day in the plot , but this movie still manages to be bizarre , and a great Godzilla movie .
042 4 This review is from :
Godzilla 2000 ( DVD )
You know what you're getting with Godzilla , and while there are unintentionally funny moments in this film , by and large it's better than most of the series . As you explore our giant nuclear dinosaur friend's oeuvre , this should be one of your first stops , along with Godzilla 1985 and of course the original 1954 Burr-less film .
044 4 The king of monsters returns.But dont watch the american veirson.In the beggining a giant rock battles agagist godzilla and after godzilla was defeated he returns and goes for another round .
046 4 I see by looking at the book that 9 minutes was taken out of the movie for us Americans when the movie was released back in 2000 . I'm guessing that the 9 minutes isn't on the DVD . Does anyone know if the missing minutes are going to be put back in to it since they are re-releasing them all for the 50th anniversary . Was also a tad upset that the original Japanese isn't in the movie . I'm hoping that they put back in all the missing stuff that was taken out for us Americans so I can see the movies as they are ment to be seen .
047 4 Thank you TOHO for releasing this follow up from the Mathew Brodhead GODZILLA.This godzilla flick was alright due to the the gap of the monster fights.I mean there really not much going on
just collecting data on Godzilla and focusing on this new UFO or
such that they find.To break a down a alien life force wants to start a kingdom on earth to be there own but first they are drawn to godzilla because of its ability and want to take control over it or so become it to start to new empire they want to build.Pretty much all the real fun is at the end of the movie but in between just a bunch of dialogue.So pretty much this movie was alirght and the new godzilla suit is pretty cool but overal its a good G FLICK .
048 4 This is the only Godzilla film that comes close to the first ! I liked the other Godzilla films , but this and the first are the only ones that stay onto the orignal plot . In this film , Godzilla is back and destroying Toyko . I think someone else said this is the only film where Godzilla looks real . Really cool fight at the end and the only one that lives up to the first ! ! !
049 4 I've seen my fair share of Godzilla movies . From the highs of Godzilla vs . Mothra to the lows of Godzilla vs . Megalon . I'm a big fan . When I heard that Tristar was releasing Godzilla 2000 , a fairly recent Godzilla movie , in North American theaters , I was very excited .
The movie was not a disappointment . What makes it much better than the horrible 1998 American Godzilla movie is that it's fun . Like most Godzilla movies , the Big G is portrayed by a guy in a rubber lizard costume , and the cardboard cities are crammed with skyscrapers that , when being crushed , have nothing fall out of them , and little miniature cars . In addition , there were some really neat computer generated effects , a pretty interesting storyline , some good action set-pieces , and a well designed Godzilla costume .
This DVD is a must for fans . There is a commentary by some people who worked on the American release who discuss the changes made ( dubbing , editing , etc . ) . Even if you're a purist , the commentary is fascinating . There is some neat behind-the-scenes footage , talent bios , theatrical trailers for Godzilla 2000 and the American Godzilla , and some good liner notes .
050 4 After growing up on Godzilla films since I was 4 years old ( Godzilla 1985 ) and seeing the horrible American version of the big guy , I was so glad to find out that Toho was gonna make another Godzilla picture after 1995 ' s Godzilla Vs Destoryh and that they were going to release it in theaters in North American in the summer of 2000 . Let me tell you , I felt like alittle kid again after seeing this in theater ( I was 19 at the time of it's release ) , he wasn't a big CGI mess he was back to being a guy in a rubber suit , which is what we all grew up on.I loved it , the bad effects and the chessy dubbing , now this is a Godzilla film , not the mistake that came out in 1998 . I also loved the new look that Godzilla got for this film.The orange / red radioactive fire and the longer dorsile fins on his back it was areally cool / new look for him.I hope that Toho releases the next few Godzilla film that they've made over here soon and they should be fun too watch .
051 4 I've been watching Gojira since long before I knew that the proper name was Gojira . Big G used to scare the hell out of me . He was bigger than me , had a bigger mouth than me , and boy could he take out the bullies ! I'm not a great big humungous Godzilla fan ( at least I don't think so ) but a fan I am . I enjoy a good sci-fi monster stomper every now and then , but throw in a G , and I'm with it . I've watched G2K three times since purchasing it ( three days ago ) and this movie doesn't fail to make me jump up and down like a restless native . For those who are thinking about buying this movie , Do It ! Godzilla doesn't stop being good . He never fades . And to see him in action makes you want to cheer him on for more .
I've rated this movie a 5 . But I add on 5 more , because I luv Godzilla . Once you see him , who wouldn't ?
And , oh yeah , I loved the new Godzilla too . I can't wait for more of him to come out ( Get with it Tri-Star ! ) , but give me that old ( or new ) rubber suit G any day . I guess it's the story line that does it to me . . . . ? Either way , a G is a G is a G ! Go go Godzilla !
052 4 This review is from :
Godzilla 2000 ( DVD )
Excellent Godzilla . The special effects on this movie are superb . Godzilla looks different ( Better ) than ever in this high tech version of our favorite monster . An alien arrives in the form of a meteor and Godzilla must battle it and of course the paltry forces of earth . The quality of the DVD is good and i think any Godzilla or Sci Fi fan will like this one .
053 4 Excellent Godzilla . The special effects on this movie are superb . Godzilla looks different ( Better ) than ever in this high tech version of our favorite monster . An alien arrives in the form of a meteor and Godzilla must battle it and of course the paltry forces of earth . The quality of the DVD is good and i think any Godzilla or Sci Fi fan will like this one .
054 4 It's good to see the original Godzilla back in action and not the American screw-up ( which wasn't bad until they tried to make reproduction a factor in a Godzilla movie ) . I think this is the best looking Toho Godzilla that I have ever seen . While the actual plot is kind of stupid and the human roles are reversed ( ex : In the originals , the guy who wants to study Godzilla is the bad guy and usually screws up and lets Godzilla loose on Japan while the guy who wants to kill him to save Japan is the good guy . It's the complete opposite in this movie ) . But then again , I usually fast-forward through these people parts when I watch it again . The new monster was ok , but it had a very strong resemblance to Biollante , another good Godzilla villian from the 80 ' s . It was an ok movie , even for a Godzilla movie . Godzilla movies , like Kung Pow : Enter The Fist , can be pretty entertaining , but they are definitely not for everyone . This movie is definitely for Godzilla fans who felt ripped off because of America's 1998 Godzilla movie . . .
055 4 It is difficult to say just which Godzilla film is the best , since the Japanese film industry keeps making them . However , Godzilla 2000 is arguably the best effort released in the United States to date . Upon release it was the first to see a major theatrical release in America in about 15 years , and after seeing it again on DVD , it is clear that this is deservedly so . It may be considered a landmark G film , set in a more realistic Japan , while avoiding some of the comic book like quality of it's predecessors .
I find it necessary to make some brief asides before going further :
1 ) Godzilla 2000 did not recycle any effects / audio , including the monster's roar , from the 1998 U.S . picture . This is obvious from listening to the soundtrack , even more so from the director's commentary , which states the fact outright .
2 ) As a classic Godzilla fan , I prefer the Japanese version , but do not think the U.S . version entirely stunk . . . What would have been the point of an American version if they had simply copied the Japanese one ? However , the U.S . version will NEVER replace the original
3 ) High-tech Special Effects alone do not make a movie , just ask the producers of 2001 , A Space Odyssey . Many cite 2001 as a landmark film , fewer would be willing to sit through the entire masterpiece .
That said , I'd have to recommend this film to anyone who loves Godzilla and / or action / adventure / Sci-Fi .
- To those in the West who complain about the dubbing , no offense , but : get a life ! : )
No matter how much many of us hardcore film fans would prefer the original films with sub-tittles , the majority of film-goers ( the ones who pay the bills as far as Hollywood is concerned ) do not , and the industry knows this . And with the advent of DVD regional coding , even getting the genuine foreign version of a film DVD like this will apparently soon be a thing of the past , unless you want to own two or three different illegal DVD players . The dubbing really is not that bad in Godzilla 2000 ( perhaps the best yet ) , and as long as the dubbed versions continue to try and make a concerted effort , as was done like never before with Godzilla 2000 , I think fans / filmgoers can live with it .
- The special effects in this film were great , not as perfect as pure CGI films , but also not as sterile , and much more life-like in many ways .
The Japanese have found a great niche in combining traditional miniature effects ( the trademark of the Japanese Giant Monster genre ) with CGI to polish up the overall look of the film .
Many will complain that these films aren't realistic enough .
I consider the source , the same American public that found Diehard , Speed , and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom to be realistic films .
One reviewer put it best when they said Americans ( / Western audiences in general ) have lost the ability to suspend their disbelief , and enjoy a great Sc-Fi / Fantasy Film without having to have tons of Hollywood slick , and Zillions of $ worth of CGI . ( If you've never had the experience of sharing one of these movies with a kid , and watching their eyes light up as they discover a whole new world , like Disney meets the Marvel universe , you're missing something . Don't forget how to be a kid , no matter how old you get ) .
Anyone who rates a fantasy film by the same standards they would apply to a serious subject needs therapy , anyway , so lets move on .
Big monsters , Big explosions , people running for their lives . The plot is more than enough for a Godzilla film , more appealing and easier to follow than past Godzilla flicks , and the whole experience is good clean fun . Well , off to watch Reptilian , lots of folks have slammed this film , too , so it must be good .
Summary :
In a nutshell , this film has more of what's likeable about Godzilla films , and less of what isn't , than any of its predecessors .
If you like Godzilla / Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Action-Adventure films , get it ! !
If you don't , ignore it , and save those of us who do the trouble of hearing how much you hated it ( and how little imagination you have ) .
theHammer
056 4 Kaiju fans rejoice , our prayers for a theatrically released Godzilla film ( since 1985 ) have been answered . . . and how ! Purists like myself who have always felt that the magic of Godzilla has always been found in the comic operatics of a guy in a big rubber suit running through model cities , and who were so offended at the very appearance of a CG Godzilla ( I am of course referring to that stupid Hollywood Re-Make by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich , who should have stopped at Stargate ! ) will find solace in this lovely piece of cinema .
Let me explain some things : I am a film major . As one , I have seen innumerable films from almost equally innumerable countries , and I have found the cinema of Japan to be the best of the best ! Why ? Well , for starters , they know how to use special effects . See , in America , when we want to make a movie , we immediately decide that computer animation is the only way to go on any and all shots ( even though frankly , CGI really isn't all that impressive once you've seen at least a thousand different films that all seem to use the same program ! ) But , in Japan , ( where animators were actually experimenting with computers as far back as the early 70s before Disney ever got the idea to make a movie that took place inside one ) computers are seen as secondary to good old-fashioned production values . Yes , Godzilla is still a guy in a suit ( except for a brief shot where he is seen swimming ) , but it is not as though we are seeing Fisher Price model trains pulled fishing wire as he runs into buildings made out of cardboard . The wonderful people at Toho took their time on this one , and managed to make something far more enjoyable than anything those hacks Emmerich and Devlin could have ripped off and made uniquely their own ( Why didn't they just call it War of the Worlds instead of Independence Day when W.O.T.W . carries so much more prestige ? ) .
The story of the film centers around an aging researcher and his young daughter , both founders of a study group devoting themselves to detecting and observing Godzilla . At the same time , the corporation the researcher used to work for ( which has devoted itself to destroying Godzilla ) finds a U.F.O . Which actually becomes a rather obnoxious opponent for Godzilla .
It's a typcial Godzilla story , but that doesn't mean it's still not worth seeing . On the contrary , This is one of the best Japanese films I have ever seen outside of the Anime and the Kurosawa Mythos .
Oh , and about that re-make , I should also like to add that it holds the distinct honor of being the first movie I have ever walked out of ! . . .
057 4 Here is an addendum to my previous G2K review .
With G2K , Toho has taken a big step forward both in terms of spfx technology and in bringing Godzilla to stunning life . Answering the naysaying Gamera supporters , Toho includes a number of cgi effects , some of which are not entirely effective , a great number of low angle shots which increase the illusion of giant creatures come to life , and many scenes of the Big G interracting with the human characters . This is a big leap up from the Heisei series , which , despite some criticisms of late , was a well done and exciting series . The story also takes place in a more realistic Japan , greatly adding to its realism . Though humor is scattered throughout the movie , it is not overused ( a common malady of current blockbusters ) . The new G design is great . The Big Guy looks meaner and , despite his decrease in size ( down to 50m from the Heisei's 100m version ) he looks very powerful . The cast is good , thankfully free of any of the bizzare or annoying characters which have become all too prevalent in today's sci-fi . All in all , a great G film and an entertaining sci-fi / fantasy adventure .
The changes that Tri-Star made to this film are mostly unforgivable . As was expected , they camped up the dialogue , muddled the script and really screwed up the dubbing . Reviewers jumped onto these elements of the film like gorillas attacking a banana . To them , I have this to say : If an American film was released in Italy , dubbed into Italian , had about 20% of the footage removed and some of the remainder rearranged , was peppered with jokes that only someone from Italy would understand , and had some of the soundtrack replaced with polka music , would it be fair to fault the film's creators for these shortcomings ? Wouldn't it be the fault of the Italian distributor and not the American filmmakers and actors ? So why is it then that the Japanese film industry constantly faces ridicule for the mistakes of the US distributor ? Think about it .
See G2K , despite the idiotic changes Tri-Star made to the film . The real Big G deserves our support . . that way no one will ever be bothered by anymore silly pretenders to the throne !
059 4 Godzilla 2000 is not anything like the Godzilla movie that graced the theatres a few years ago and that most people hated . It's a lot more like the old Godzilla movies that were made decades ago such as King Kong vs . Godzilla and Godzilla vs . The Sea Monster .
Yep that's right , Godzilla 2000 takes place in Tokyo Japan , it's dubbed in English , and Godzilla has that all-familiar cry , or voice , that he always had . This time around , Godzilla terrorizes the city of Tokyo while battling against a huge monster formed from rock that seems to be controlled by aliens . This rock monster has supposedly been resting for many many years , yet it's also very powerful and might be unstoppable . . . . for people that is .
If you like the old type of Godzilla movie where the whole movie centers around Godzilla battling against a huge and powerful nemesis , then you gotta see Godzilla 2000 . Godzilla 2000 has great special effects , and it's one movie that doesn't need great acting in order to make it a good movie because Godzilla is the star , not the actors .
060 4 I saw this movie in the theater with my friends and loved it . One of my favorite parts was the finale where the main characters explain how godzilla is a great guy , followed by him destroying the remainder of the city , freeze frame . THE END and a spinning ? . It was great ! I never laughed so hard . I buy the movie and skip to that part , and for some reason , they removed the spinning question mark from THE END . Why ? If not for that , I'd have given this DVD 5 stars .
061 4 If you are a die-hard Godzilla fan , then you will probably need this DVD for your collection . I have loved Godzilla since I was a child , however , I bought this DVD because I buy just about everything that I can on DVD that is in Japanese to practice my speaking and listening ability . Unfortunately , and contradictory to what it says above , there is no BONUS Japanese Language version on these disks , at least not on mine . You are stuck with the English dubbed or even more ridiculously French dubbed version of the movie . So if you are buying this disk so you don't have to watch the dubbed version , then you are wasting your money .
062 4 OK , let's get the nitty-gritty out of the way : while this is miles better than the ludicrous American Godzilla , I'm not yet going to compare it point-for-point with either of the previous two Godzilla series , since this is only the first effort in a totally new direction for the G films . Don't worry , we won't have long to wait for future comments , since the new sequel Godzilla X Megaguiras has been out in Japan for some time now and will doubtlessly make its way to the States sometime in the near future . When that happens , the new series as a whole will be able to be put into a proper context .
That being said , there are many good things to be said about G . 2000 , not the least of which is the new Godzilla suit . FINALLY , some of the menace of the original Godzilla has been resurrected , in no small part due to the extra-big mouth and sharp teeth that Toho has endowed upon the newest Big G . The blending of suitmation and computer FX is at times positively wonderful - - there's quite simply nothing like an actual actor smashing the real ( albeit miniature ) buildings , which a computer cannot replace . The battles between Godzilla and the alien creature Orga aren't quite on the grand scale of previous films like Mothra vs . Godzilla ( 1964 ) , but are still miles above most of the pitiful CGI-happy action films that Hollywood has been all to happy to release nowadays . So the dubbing is less than stellar . . . did you really expect it to be otherwise ? If nothing else , Godzilla 2000 reminds filmgoers that a good movie is only produced with some actual THINKING at the helm .
063 4 Well I'm mighty happy to have Godzilla 2000 on DVD but there had been news that this would include the Japanese audio track and reintroduce the 8 minutes that were originally edited out . Whatever happened to these plans they seem to have gotten scrapped at the last minute in the long standing tradition of only offering goofy english dubs of Godzilla movies . Were this a serious film ( AKA Gojira 1954 ) , I think I would be really upset by this , but Tristar's dub is rather funny and serves the fil fairly well as camp ( and it is hard to take this film as anything else despite its sometimes jaw dropping miniture effects . ) I very much wish they could start releasing these films in the original language just on principle alone , but I gather they are still waiting for the Japananese DVD market to get up to speed before they start doing that .
Anyway , it is a fun film - - I'd definitely recommend this to people who enjoyed the silliness going on in the ghidora / mothra split DVD .
065 4 First the question , How to rate this movie ? How many stars ? I took a two pronged approach . When compared to other movies out in theaters , it deserves one star . But in the Japanese monster movie genre , I give it five stars . So averaged together , it gets three stars . As we know , Godzilla movies have their own seperate cinematic standards . The 1998 American version was a travesty , as I wrote in my review of it . But back in the hands of Toho , this is pretty much everything we could hope for . Here we see a fair amount of 21st century technical stuff , but then there's that guy in the monster suit . Toho knew just what to update and just what to leave in the old style . Well done ! The movie was made with the sensibilities of a Japanese audiance in mind . But we wouldn't have it any other way . Yes , there are some gaping holes in the plot line , as if a few explanatory scenes were left on the cutting room floor . The kid in the movie is about the most annoying kid they've ever featured ( and they've had many ) . The alien spaceship is mesmerizing in its design . The bad guy's almost poetic demise was a nice touch . Watching this movie made me feel like a kid again , taking me back to a much simpler time . Many thanks , Toho ! This is well worth having , once the price comes down . Be patient - - there will always be a Godzilla .
068 4 I haven't seen all the Godzilla movies , so I can't say if Godzilla 2000 is the best , but it certainly has to rank near the top . The acting is good , Godzilla looks more menacing than ever ( especially when he's ready to unleash his flames ) , and the plot is actually quite enjoyable , considering it's centered around a 400 foot lizard . Unfortunately , this DVD does not have the original Japanese dialogue , but the dubbing is well done . The dubbing is certainly much better than the Godzilla movies of the 60 ' s and 70 ' s . The special effects are the standout of the movie , especially when F - 15 jets attack Godzilla with missiles . This DVD also has a brief , but interesting behind-the-scenes video of the making of Godzilla 2000 . If nothing else , this movie is certainly far superior to the American version of Godzilla released in 1998 , starring Matthew Broderick . I think it proves the Japanese understand the Godzilla phenomenon much better than anyone else .
069 4 Now this is the Godzilla that I have been waiting to see , not the horrendous digital joke that the people behind ID4 created . The man in the rubber suit look is back with a few slight changes but nothing drastic or terrible I thought . I can always count on the ridiculous overdubbing to crack me up . The acting is hokey I will admit and the plot kinda over the top but only the Japanese can do that and make it actually entertaining . Unlike the past movies , here in Godzilla 2000 digital effects is brought into the movie . The monster that Godzilla battles begins looking like a streamlined UFO , but it isn't til towards the end does the viewer sees what the monster really looks like and what its purpose on earth is . Unlike the atrocious American version of Godzilla , I found Godzilla 2000 thoroughly entertaining and extremely cheesy and I mean that as a compliment . Only the Japanese could make science fiction films so hilarious to watch .
070 4 This review is from :
Godzilla 2000 ( DVD )
Just got this dvd from Amazon today and watched it . Video and audio quality are very good and I would highy recommend this DVD to any one .
071 4 Just got this dvd from Amazon today and watched it . Video and audio quality are very good and I would highy recommend this DVD to any one .
072 4 This review is from :
Godzilla 2000 ( DVD )
Godzilla 2000 is a great return for the King of the monsters . Yes , at first glance it's sloppy and the kind of film you would watch to laugh if you weren't in the mood for one of the 70s series . The CG effects are poor , the dialog is frequently terrible and the bad dubbing doesn't help matters , but in every other regard , this movie is a great installment in the Godzilla saga .
Fans of the Japanese Monster King who disliked or outright hated the Roland Emmerich movie will easily point out references and comparisons to the 1998 creature . Godzilla 2000 is full of jibes at the beast known as GINO ( Godzilla In Name Only ) , and the enemy monster , named Orga , seems to be a GINO-formation of Gamera , another monster that has competed with Godzilla , and metaphorically speaking , has tried to replace him as King of the Monsters during Godzilla's previous five-year absence . Who can deny that Orga is a severe deformation of Gamera , with the same oily-gray skin as GINO and a mistreated special weapon ( a plasma burst from the shoulder similar , though not identical , to the fireballs of the Gamera 90s trilogy , the same way GINO's flammable breath was a rehashing of Godzilla's heat ray ) . As Orga steps out from behind the flames in one clip , his strikingly turtle-like features are even more obvious .
The movie , however , is not all camp and jibes . A sense of wonder and curiosity permeates much of late second act of the film , as scientists discover a truly marvelous ability in Godzilla's cellular structure , and comment that he could be full of such mysteries . This is factor that establishes how little we really know about Godzilla , and stands as a metaphor for how little we really know about our entire world and nature at large .
Likewise , there is a sense of mystery surrounding the UFO which eventually births Orga . The human characters are at a loss to explain the creature's motivations and what it wants with Godzilla until the final act of the movie , and the UFO is afforded a great sense of menace , presenting more than just a physical threat as it drains the city of all it's data and nearly cripples all of what we call civilization in the process .
There are themes in the movie such as the exploitation of science for all the wrong reasons , the lack of ethical conduct and accountability in the face of what we don't understand and are afraid of . These themes , while firmly stated , sadly feel under-explored .
What truly makes this movie great , however , is the opening and final acts of the film . From the opening credits to the end of Godzilla's first rampage , the theme that Godzilla is a territorial and unforgiving force of nature is clearly established . This theme from the very beginning is as prominent as it was during the Heisei series ( 80s - 90s ) , even the movie from 1984 . Some of this feeling , unfortunately , is lost as soon as the human characters take up the spotlight , which wouldn't have been as bad if the dialog and dubbing were handled better .
The final act of the film , Godzilla's big fight with the new monster Orga , is a brilliant road to this films true climax . The choreography is incredible , Orga has more than a few surprises up his sleeve , though the final moments of the fight are somewhat ambiguous and require a bit of thought to determine what actually happened between the two monsters that caused each one to act so strangely . The natural solution , which I shall not spoil here , takes only a moment to reach once you sit back and reflect on it .
SPOILER WARNING - Next Paragraph
The true climax of the film , however , is perhaps the most intelligent act Godzilla has ever preformed , taking place immediately after the coup de grace : a judgment . He singles out his human aggressor among a group of people and kills only this man before turning away . This scene alone makes the movie worth full price .
073 4 Godzilla 2000 is a great return for the King of the monsters . Yes , at first glance it's sloppy and the kind of film you would watch to laugh if you weren't in the mood for one of the 70s series . The CG effects are poor , the dialog is frequently terrible and the bad dubbing doesn't help matters , but in every other regard , this movie is a great installment in the Godzilla saga .
Fans of the Japanese Monster King who disliked or outright hated the Roland Emmerich movie will easily point out references and comparisons to the 1998 creature . Godzilla 2000 is full of jibes at the beast known as GINO ( Godzilla In Name Only ) , and the enemy monster , named Orga , seems to be a GINO-formation of Gamera , another monster that has competed with Godzilla , and metaphorically speaking , has tried to replace him as King of the Monsters during Godzilla's previous five-year absence . Who can deny that Orga is a severe deformation of Gamera , with the same oily-gray skin as GINO and a mistreated special weapon ( a plasma burst from the shoulder similar , though not identical , to the fireballs of the Gamera 90s trilogy , the same way GINO's flammable breath was a rehashing of Godzilla's heat ray ) . As Orga steps out from behind the flames in one clip , his strikingly turtle-like features are even more obvious .
The movie , however , is not all camp and jibes . A sense of wonder and curiosity permeates much of late second act of the film , as scientists discover a truly marvelous ability in Godzilla's cellular structure , and comment that he could be full of such mysteries . This is factor that establishes how little we really know about Godzilla , and stands as a metaphor for how little we really know about our entire world and nature at large .
Likewise , there is a sense of mystery surrounding the UFO which eventually births Orga . The human characters are at a loss to explain the creature's motivations and what it wants with Godzilla until the final act of the movie , and the UFO is afforded a great sense of menace , presenting more than just a physical threat as it drains the city of all it's data and nearly cripples all of what we call civilization in the process .
There are themes in the movie such as the exploitation of science for all the wrong reasons , the lack of ethical conduct and accountability in the face of what we don't understand and are afraid of . These themes , while firmly stated , sadly feel under-explored .
What truly makes this movie great , however , is the opening and final acts of the film . From the opening credits to the end of Godzilla's first rampage , the theme that Godzilla is a territorial and unforgiving force of nature is clearly established . This theme from the very beginning is as prominent as it was during the Heisei series ( 80s - 90s ) , even the movie from 1984 . Some of this feeling , unfortunately , is lost as soon as the human characters take up the spotlight , which wouldn't have been as bad if the dialog and dubbing were handled better .
The final act of the film , Godzilla's big fight with the new monster Orga , is a brilliant road to this films true climax . The choreography is incredible , Orga has more than a few surprises up his sleeve , though the final moments of the fight are somewhat ambiguous and require a bit of thought to determine what actually happened between the two monsters that caused each one to act so strangely . The natural solution , which I shall not spoil here , takes only a moment to reach once you sit back and reflect on it .
SPOILER WARNING - Next Paragraph
The true climax of the film , however , is perhaps the most intelligent act Godzilla has ever preformed , taking place immediately after the coup de grace : a judgment . He singles out his human aggressor among a group of people and kills only this man before turning away . This scene alone makes the movie worth full price .
074 4 This is not your common Godzilla movie . For one the suit is design in not a good way . The neck is too fat , and the fins are too long . In this film Godzilla fights a monster called Orga . Orga only appear in the end of the film . But the film does move along pretty well for the most part . Better then GMK , but not better then Final Wars which is the far best Godzilla movie .
075 4 After the universally panned Tristar Godzilla ( 1998 ) , Toho decided to correct some of Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin's mistakes . They only partially succeeded . Godzilla 2000 returns Godzilla to his rightful place as a rampaging , powerful , radiation-scarred daikaiju , rather than an oversized , cowardly iguana , but - - unfortunately - - it also features long stretches of uninspired people scenes and a monstrous opponent that fails to impress .
Originally , Sony proclaimed that the 50 - year anniversary release of Godzilla 2000 would feature the film's original Japanese version . However , the 2004 DVD contains only the American release produced by Mike Schlesinger ( the same as the original 2001 Sony DVD release ) . To some , the U.S . version is actually an improvement , since it trims the original running time by 12 minutes , only a fraction of which includes monster scenes . However , the English dialogue comes off as distinctly more tongue-in-cheek than the original Japanese , mostly to the film's detriment .
Regardless , Godzilla 2000 is an entertaining film that stands head and shoulders above the 1998 Tristar farce . Toho presents a fearsome Godzilla , much more in keeping with his traditional , malevolent image . The plot , slow as it is , offers an interesting look at Godzilla's regenerative powers , and the special effects are often exceptional . However , Godzilla's opponent , Orga , is much more interesting in concept than execution , and the long stretches of movie that prompt one to ask where's the monster ? weaken what might otherwise be a Toho classic .
076 4 I'm not sure if anyone can capture the magic of Toho's 1960 ' s / 1970 ' s Godzilla films again . The combination of odd visuals , coupled with unique dialogue , jarring editing and dubbing , and of course the amazing special effects all blended together to create a magic for fans of giant monster movies that has never been duplicated .
Well Godzilla 2000 comes closest to capturing that Toho feel than anything else has in quite a few years . Godzilla looks really impressive here , smashing Tokyo as only he can . One of the things I like best about Godzilla 2000 is that while he does his best to fight off the bad buy . . . Godzilla isn't a good guy . Basically he's shown as an animal protecting his turf .
But for me a Godzilla film is only as good as Godzilla's adversary . If you have a lame villain , then the film will fail . Godzilla's nemesis in this flick is named Orga . Orga is pretty impressive , but he takes quite a long while to show up on screen . For most of the film we see the villains represented by a giant silver spaceship . . . . that basically flies around and lands on a building or two . . . and that's about it . Once Orga breaks onto the scene it's a fun ride , but it's a bit of a wait getting to that final showdown .
Still , if you are going to watch a late 90 ' s Godzilla movie . . . . this is the one to go with .
077 4 This review is from :
Godzilla 2000 ( DVD )
I would like to recommend that all of those who enjoy the true Godzilla movie buy this one . Godzilla looks and acts like the real Godzilla , not something our of Jurassaic Park . It is really good . I am going to get the whole set , one at a time . Thank you , Marilyn Jo Weaver
078 4 I would like to recommend that all of those who enjoy the true Godzilla movie buy this one . Godzilla looks and acts like the real Godzilla , not something our of Jurassaic Park . It is really good . I am going to get the whole set , one at a time . Thank you , Marilyn Jo Weaver
079 4 This review is from :
Godzilla 2000 [ VHS ] ( VHS Tape )
For me , this is one of the 2 or 3 best Godzilla sequels
out of ALL the post 1956 versions so far
( with 2001 ' s Giant Monsters All-Out-Attack being
perhaps the best ) .
The Alien rock subplot works pretty well , IMO ,
and adds interest to the main story .
It's fun and works well as sci-fi action-entertainment , IMHO .
But , let's face it - - You are either
a Kaiju person ( Kaiju = Giant Monster Movie ) , or not .
If you ARE ( or are curious ) , this one is
definitely worth your attention .
080 4 For me , this is one of the 2 or 3 best Godzilla sequels
out of ALL the post 1956 versions so far
( with 2001 ' s Giant Monsters All-Out-Attack being
perhaps the best ) .
The Alien rock subplot works pretty well , IMO ,
and adds interest to the main story .
It's fun and works well as sci-fi action-entertainment , IMHO .
But , let's face it - - You are either
a Kaiju person ( Kaiju = Giant Monster Movie ) , or not .
If you ARE ( or are curious ) , this one is
definitely worth your attention .
081 4 Ever since I saw the dreadful American version of Godzilla , I was insulted . When Japan made a new version of the big G in 1999 , I was so happy , I forgot about the American one , right until the real Godzilla killed the fake in Final Wars !
082 4 Very good movie . I love it alot . The story is so perfect an can easily be understood . The Godzilla costume is one of the best I've ever seen . Godzilla battles one the coolest foes yet . . . Orga ! ! ! ! I love how Godzilla blows up Orga from the inside ! It's pretty cool . Orga almost became a clone of Godzilla ! ! He even grew the spikes ! And , Godzilla actually kills someone ! ! ! He kills a human . The only downside is Orga only appears at the very end .
083 4 Do you long for the old days when miniature replicas of cities would be destroyed by the rage of a man in a rubber suit ? When huge monsters battled to the death , endangering all of mankind in the process ? When a lone Japanese man would lay his eyes upon the sky in terror , screaming Gojira ? Well , there's no need to fear , because Godzilla 2000 is here !
Even when we Americans butcher the character with horrendous CGI and weak attempts at a more horrifying King Of Monsters , the Japanese have stuck to their iconic sea-beast in all of it's glory . If you feel that craving for the cheesy experience only old ' Zilla flicks can bring you , don't think that they stopped in the 70 ' s ! The only difference here is the date of the film . We still get that tail-swinging , fire-breathing , building-smashing , road-stomping , monster-beating growler of a giant known as Godzilla . With great pride , the Japanese preserve this wonderful character persistantly through many films , and we're lucky enough to have them releaseed over here in the US . So , what are you waiting for ? Experience the raw , corny terror of Godzillla 2000 today !
084 4 This film is good and doesn't have all the cheesy action anymore but still Godzilla and Orga don't have a big role . . .
086 4 First , this movie gets my four stars based on its merit as a GODZILLA movie . Anyone who knows Godzilla knows that Godzilla movies are in a world all of their own .
Godzilla 2000 is like a breath of fresh spring air after viewing that travesty of an American version . Godzilla 2000 is everything that the American Godzilla wasn't . Godzilla 2000 brings back the things that made me a Godzilla fan in the first place , and he looks better than ever . The new design of Godzilla rocks , and the coolest part ? The new way he spews out his orange-radioactive breath . It just looks fantastic .
Basically , Godzilla fights a huge alien that has been trapped in a meteorite for thousands of years . Naturally , some silly humans unearth the meteorite and set the alien-craft loose upon Tokyo . Who comes to save the day ? Godzilla , of course .
The effects are decent by Toho standards , but a lot of them look downright silly . For me , this has become a part of the Godzilla appeal . I WANT to see a guy in a suit crushing and burning little models . Rock on , Godzilla 2000 !
The DVD has commentary by the guys who put together the American version of the film . It's runs a little boring , in my opinion . There's also trailers for this film and the American Godzilla . Not enough extras to satiate my Godzilla appetite . Still , I enjoyed the heck out of the film itself .
As the movie states , there's a little bit of Godzilla in all of us .
087 4 Size doesn't matter , it is quality that matters ! First off , I would like to thank Toho and everyone involved with this movie , Thank you for bringing back Godzilla ! Campy storylines , campy music , bad dubbing , it is all here ! The best thing is , it's a guy in a rubber suit ! The new improved Godzilla has a more sinster look to him . He holds grudges , he has a personality , you wish this movie would never end ! The foul language is even funny ! The german quote of Gott en himmel by a japanese store owner is just too funny ! Even though I am 40 , with children , I was 12 again when I saw this movie . My son , ( who I have turned into a major Godzilla fan ) pointed out to me that at the end of the movie , Orga was transforming into the Hollywood version of Godzilla . Just seeing our hero crushed that J.I.N.O . ( just in name only ) Godzilla was a delight . Lets hope Toho keeps him fresh and funny for years too come .
088 4 The king of the monsters returns in one of his best films yet . This time , he faces an opponent bent on taking over the earth for his own deeds , just like Space Godzilla . But once again , the king of the monsters comes to protect humanity although they scorn him . Later , they finally realize that he's on their side . This movie has great special effects . And the choppers , tanks , and the UFO look realistic . Like they say on TV : if you can't stand the heat , run .
089 4 When I first saw this , it actually was in American theatres , and then I did not purchase it until early this year , for some reason , but I had been meaning to . Anyway , I'll start off by saying that Godzilla 2000 definitely is the best one that I've seen so far , but who knows , this could be outmatched by the upcoming Godzilla vs . MechaGodzilla remake , actually , it is the 2nd remake of the original 1974 classic , you can see the issue of FANGORIA magazine now in stores for all the details . But , back to our topic , Godzilla 2000 .
The voice dubbing over is , okay , let's be honest , not that good . The profanity isn't convincing , which leads me to believe that it was just thrown in , or else the voice-overs needed to get a better idea of how to . . . voice over . Other than that , as far as actually acting in action goes , that was fine with me .
The special effects are always cheap in a Godzilla movie , no matter how new it is . The only Godzilla movie I've ever seen that didn't look like a man in a rubber suit that was filmed on a greenscreen and then placed behind a wideshot of Tokyo is the 1998 American version of the original Godzilla ( with plenty of twists ) . But , nevertheless , it is good to have the old Godzilla back , but there is one special effect that I would like to give lots of credit to . And that is Godzilla's fire blast , I've never seen such an amazing effect , and the way he builds up is just nerve-wracking , and when he finally releases the fire , it doesn't look like just a thin wave of steam , it's a massive fusion of energy and fire released like some kind of giant tidal wave from Godzilla's mouth , it was really cool , and I can't describe the sound it made , but that made it even cooler . Take it from me , that is the best effect that you'll ever see in a Godzilla movie , American or Japanese .
The only reason I gave this film 4 stars , well , actually , I'd give it about a 4.7 , is because there are periodic boring scenes . I mean , there is a significant amount of time wrapped up in between Godzilla's first encounter with the alien craft and his encounter with Orga at the end . But , I don't take anything away from my rating because of some of the cheap effects ( definitely excluding Godzilla's fire blast ) because so many of the Godzilla films are so low-budget that cheap effects have almost become a necessity .
Godzilla 2000 marks the 25th and best installment in the Godzilla series by a landslide . I think any fan of the Sci-Fi genre should have this in their collection , it is a piece of Sci-Fi / Action history !
090 4 Godzilla is Back in his newest Movie.Now w / new special effects this Movie is REAL monster movie , unlike other Godzilla movies he's not ALL good . This Movie is a TRUE Godzilla Movie !
091 4 This was the first DVD I bought and it's great . It trashes the pale American flick of the same name but not the same game .
Godzilla is back and bigger , better and badder than ever .
I recommend this flick absolutely .
092 4 I can't find my old review on this movie so I'm writing a quick new one .
As with the new cycle of Godzilla movies in 1984 , all previous movies except for the original 1954 one are ignored .
It's great to see someone try to bring Godzilla movies back to the big screen in the US , but I wish they could just leave them as the director originally intended it . This movie was editted ( or censored ) for its American release . ( Even the first Pokemon movie was censored for its release here . )
I don't care for the editting of some of the scenes in this movie . In many action scenes , the same angle is used for too long . Simple changing the view more often during a fighting or military scene would have helped the pacing of these moments . There are also too many wide shots of Godzilla . There should have been more close-ups . It felt like Toho had to repeatedly show off the full kaiju costume - rather than simply make it an element of the movie .
I hate to compare it to a movie not available in the US yet , but Gamera 3 was released 9 months before Godzilla 2000 in Japan . In G3 , the scenes were editted as they should have been which kept the few action scenes moving along . This director directed Godzilla 2002 too ( released in Japan on the day I'm writing this based on info in the trailer from the Japanese web site ) . The Godzilla movies should be improving their production values in future releases . I just wish TriStar wasn't handling the import process of these movies .
The dubbing here is better than TriStar's straight to video Godzilla movies .
I started listening to the commentary for this DVD . The commentary is actually by the guy responsible for the dubbing and censorship . I could not listen to more than a few minutes of this and proves that TriStar might not be the best studio for handling this . He actually says that Godzilla movies are for kids . ( Watch an uncensored copy of Terror of Mechagodzilla where a character commits suicide and tell me if that's for kids . ) No one importing a movie should be assuming what audience the movie is intended for . ( Something like Pokemon could be an exception . ) All of the newer Godzilla movies are more mature than the original set of movies . Godzilla 2000 is not a kids ' movie in my opinion . This reminds me of most Americans ' assumption that anything animated is for kids . ( All of those parents taking their kids to see Princess Mononoke even though it was rated PG - 13 . I don't know if any parents have tried taking kids to see Vampire Hunter D which is rated R . ) He also admits to changing the dialog . I'm one of those people who want to see a movie ( any movie ) in its original form and feel that any translation should be faithful to the original . I didn't want to know that new lines had replaced some of the original dialog simply to explain something not described in the original Japanese .
Overall , the movie is OK , but seems to move along too slow at points . Some lines are too cheesy , and there is no easy way to tell if those lines came from the original Japanese or not . ( Anyone who assumes these movies always have this type of dialog - just look at the new Gamera movies - the first movie of the series is available in the US . ) The commentary made things worse for me . True Godzilla fans should still enjoy this movie . For anyone watching the series for the first time , you might want to see the 1956 version first . ( The 1954 version is not available in the US . You can only get the 1956 edition with Raymond Burr scenes added . )
As you have probably noticed , I don't like how Toho has handled exporting its movies to the US . You can find letterboxed and subtitled editions of old Gamera movies ( not fansubs ) , but none of Godzilla .
093 4 Godzilla 2000 is an exciting , fun film , with plenty of colorful action , and a stunning new design for Godzilla . The film has a nice blend of old-school rubber monsters cardboard models enhanced by modern CGI effects , giving us the best of both worlds . The audio commentary by the producers of the American release is both informative and very humorous . Listening to the the discussion , you can tell that these were people who really enjoyed having the opportunity to work on the film and bring it to a U.S . audience .
094 4 I have loved godzilla for years and this is one of the best , though as usual the dubbing could use some work . Although the American godzilla movie was not as bad as most people say , it still can not hold a match to this film .
095 4 The plot is the old formula , Godzilla ramapges , new monster worse than Godzilla shows up , Godzilla rescues Earth by kicking butt on New Monster .
Masterpiect Theater this isn't , but it is fun . If you want to watch a carton for adults but feel that professional wrestling insults your intelligence , see this one !
097 4 Excellent , fun ' old style Godzilla ' with a twist . Good special effects , pretty reasonable dubbing , ( only one or two silly ' cod Japanese ' accents ) , jolly good time had by all . The ' new ' Godzilla is a fantastic design , being both mean and cute at the same time , making you root for The Big G , just like in the 60 ' s halcyon days . Comparisons with the US of A's big lizard will be inevitable but forget all that . This is how a Godzilla film should look and feel . That is to say , great fun !
098 4 Godzilla 2000 is really ment to be seen on the big screen . All the glaring bad effects and campiness is forgiven when his royal grumpiness is stomping on small cars . On the home side it loses something . That cinematic feel . That popcorn in your lap and hooting and laughing at lines such as did you see that flying rock ? All is not lost on this DVD though . The commentary track really stands out and gives you some deep insight into editing and post production process and voice acting . They speak with such passion of the series that it at times elevates Godzilla to High Camp Art . If you are not a fan of the genre or have no sense humor pass this film by otherwise go buy it now !
099 4 In an enormously entertaining new outing , Japan's famous not-so-jolly green giant returns in all his glory to once again trash ( miniature ) Tokyo .
Proving point positive that if you want the real deal , you have to go the source ; in this case Toho Studios , the true guardian of the Godzilla legend . Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin's thunderously dull and dispiriting Americanized 1998 version ( though technically impressive ) only proves this point - Toho KNOWS Godzilla , and delivers in this new film all that makes Godzilla movies great . Though it certainly doesn't match the seamless digital effects work on the American version , this film revitalizes Japan's most deliriously entertaining export with true verve and infectuous fun . It's all here . . . horrendous dubbing ( though on the DVD the option is thankfully offered to view the film in its original language , with subtitles - watch the dubbed version first , though - its hilarious ) , third-rate special effects , and a bizarre storyline in which nothing is off limits .
All of it is awesome , possessing a huge amount of everything the American version lacked - genuine charm . While the film does contain a few scenes by director Takao Okawara that clearly attempt to mimic ( or maybe parody ? ) Emmerich and Devlin's Independence Day and Godzilla , these are ill-advised . Independence Day did not win an Oscar for Best Visual Effects for nothing , and their version of Godzilla , however awful it may otherwise be , was visually and technically miles above this film . That being said however , it is impossible not to get into the spirit of fun this movie was clearly intended in .
Toho is now making use of digital effects , and some are unbelievably awful , but most work in the best B-movie way . Case in point , in one of those wonderfully trancendent moments in gloriously bad movies , is when Godzilla finally unviels his new , CGI-created radioactive breath . The scene comes about a third of the way into the film as he faces off against a giant spaceship , the supposed occupants of which are attempting to steal the big guy's power of spontaneous regeneration . Up to this point , Godzilla has not unleased his most famous trait . . . and here finally does in a spectacularly staged scene that is utterly sublime .
This new rebirth of the legendary lizard is wonderfully perfect in all its B-level awfulness , and a welcome and totally fun return to monster movies still made the old fashioned way .
100 4 The big guy's back and better than ever ! We all know that the Godzilla likes to destroy Tokyo , but when it comes to monsters , now were talking ! I think this one is even better than Destroyah or Spacegodzilla ( but NOT Mechagodzilla 2 ! ) I especially think the begining is the best ! But , hey , we all have our ipinions ! You take a plot , put in the G man , add a monster , and watch Godzilla do some but kicking and wham ! Toho does it again ! The movie also has a little chain to it = spaceship = rock = spaceship = spaceship and monster = monster = dust.Well , I hope you enjoy this awesome movie ! ( from 1 # Godzilla fan )
101 4 Where is the japanese version ? If you're allergic to dubbed movies as I am don't buy !
102 4 If your hoping for good Godzilla movie , you will not be disapointed . Some of the scenes are the best I have ever seen of Big G . And that goes for the American made Godzilla as well . The combination real / model shots were really well done . I agree with the reviewers here that the whole plot with the silver Frizzbe , and yucky monster at the end , were a little hard to take , but like the guy says in the movie after someone complains that a ship from another planet is unbelievable : And you think Godzilla is normal ? . Language was more rough than it needed to be . Somehow I don't think the Japanese version had all those curse words in it . This film is convincing enough that it might be a little rough for younger viewers . My favorite scene : The car racing along the road with Godzilla stomping along in the back ground . What a sight , like the tornado chasers on the Discovery channel .
103 4 Some of the scenes had me going wow , and I've seen a lot of these sorts of films . Some of the combinations of Godzilla and real scenery were excellent and very convincing . While its not CGI , its certainly state of the art film and model technique . A lot of attention when into realistic combinations of real photography and the models . I have to agree with other reviewers , this blew the recent American version out for breath taking shots . But I also have to agree that aside from the Zilla scenes , there was a lot of the big frizzbe when I would have prefered to see Big G . The fight at the end was more gross than awsome , but hey , they probably thought we wanted to see that based on the blood and gore of a lot the 90 ' s American sci-fi movies . I have just ordered the original ' 57 DVD of Godzilla , and may get this one to go with it . This one has some amazing scenes of Godzilla . If anyone has seen this and thinks any of the recent films compare I'd like to know so I can rent or buy those as well . Be warned , this film has some rough scenes and language for little ones .
104 4 Godzilla 2000 is the most exiting godzilla movie ever ! The movie had me on the edge of my seat wondering if the Japanes army could kill Godzilla before the alien spaceship got to him . There were mutiple angels in this movie , I cn't decide if the main plot was Godzilla destroying Tokyo or the 64 million year old UFO .
105 4 This in my opion is the best Godzilla movie to date . Back in 1998 Tri star realesed a film that was not godzilla only by title but now the studio that brought us the originals is back with Godzilla 2000 . I don't know why people find this movie funny but I don't I found this film to be the most enjoyable movie this year . The special effects are the best in the japanese series and also the acting is better then many japanese monster films . I reccomend you add this video to your movie collection .
106 4 At last , a real Godzilla film . Much better than the 1998 junk that came out . It's worth buying just to see the new Godzilla suit .
107 4 Let me just say this about Godzilla Movies in general : Forget about trying to understand the plot , if there was one to start with , it gets lost in translation / dubbing to English and none of these Millenium Series movies makes any sense at all . They seem to be an odd mix of fantasy , sci-fi , horror and drama . You really need to take a leap of faith into the Godzilla Universe to sit through an entire movie , the dialog and themes are hard to take . I'd say it probably boils down to nothing more than a difference between Japaneese and American story telling sensibilities . After watching the whole thing , My son and I like to watch it again a time or two , but we jump right to the best Monster battle scenes - that's the beauty of the DVD format , you can go right to the good stuff and pass up all the weird parts in between .
That said , the MS movies are absolutely awesome . Compared to the older guy-in-suit Godzilla Movies , the new ones ( 90 ' s - 2000 ' s ) are cutting edge . They have mind blowing special effects , huge sets of cities built with models , and they seem to have a creepy , chilling , & darker look to the night scenes . The behind the scenes part is neat , showing how they shoot the films - just as enjoyable as the movie .
The UFO is mosty CGI animation and looks goofy flying around , but the combat scenes between the army , airforce , Godzilla , the model UFO , and the alien monster are outstanding . There's missiles & shells flying everywhere , just like it should be , all out warfare . I didn't get the other's reviewer's mention of male / female sugestion in the scene , they must have a dirty mind .
108 4 It is me Andre , again . Remember me , G fans ? I wrote a review on Godzilla : Destroy All Monsters Melee . It says ' ' I am . . . , the biggest video gamer . . . - I put my name there , but it got cut out . Anyway , I'm writing a review for my favorite Godzilla movie : Godzilla 2000 . I love the new Godzilla look ( With him being dark green instead of black ) . His face looks a little different , including teeth that make him look even fiercer than the Showa and the Heisei series . Even more important , is his dorsal spines . They are larger and sharper in contrast to the much rounded fins of the Showa or Heisei Godzilla . And of course , there is his new Atomic Breath . It is now reddish white while the all other Godzillas ' breath is blue . Orga is also very cool and is one of my favorite daikaiju ( giant monsters ) . Although everyone says that this isn't the mutated Godzilla Junior from Godzilla vs . Destroyah , I still like to think of him as Godzilla Junior . And while evidence says he is 55 meters tall , I still like to think of him as 100 . Well , that's all for now . [ . . . ]
109 4 This has got to be THE feel-good movie to round out the last decade of the 20th Century . Movie buffs should take note of the dubbed version's occasional sound bites taken from movies like Dr . Strangelove and Patton . I'm not certain whether or not the occasional bad process shot or matte frame was an intentional homage to earlier , somewhat cruder Godzilla films , but it took me back to earlier , innocent days of childhood spent watching guys in silly rubber outfits smashing toy cities .
What has got to be the most hamster-stranglingly funny moment of the entire movie for me was a scene in which the alien spaceship is advancing on the city , casting a sinister shadow over everything in its path . Out comes a shopkeeper to close up and head for the shelters when he suddenly looks up and cries out , Gott in Himmel ! I fell out of my chair at that - a Japanese movie , dubbed in English , and one of the actors blurts out something in German . Comic genius !
All in all , an absolutely wonderful movie , and a must-see for all fans of Godzilla ( or any other movie monster , for that matter ) !
110 4 A mysterious foreign object is awakened like a Sleeping Giant powered to life by the Rising Sun . Hmmm , sounds like the factual account of what lay ahead following the aftermath of Pearl Harbor . To continue , this unknown foreign intruder has plans to take over the Earth , well at least Japan , by swallowing all of Tokyo's computer data . As one scientist concludes It could end our civilization as we know it .
Surprisingly this foreign intruder has a more than curious interest in Godzilla . The reason ? An unknown discovery until now , Godzilla's genetic structure allows it to regenerate itself at the drop of a hat . No wonder the Japanese can never seem to be rid of him ! And there's good reason not to be ! Regenerator G - 1 as this gene is named is the source of this Foreigner's acquisition and eventual take-over attempt ! For once it gets it hands , paws , claws ? on the secret of Godzilla this Independent believes it will have its Day ! You must have figured out by now where I am going with this ! Yes , that's right Godzilla 2000 is a more than deserved slap at that Tri-star version starring Mathew Broderick that should have been called ' JurasSick Park goes to New York . '
Hasn't anyone who has seen G - 2000 noticed how that Foreign Intruder bears a striking resemblance to that overgrown American . . . ? Needless to say , I've already said too much . G - 2000 certainly holds its own to that . . . imitator . The Godzilla costume is much more elaborate , with a more frightening toothy look and more Spikey Spine fins . The special effects at Toho are getting better and better with better fire breath effects and Godzilla swimming underwater looked really nice !
In conclusion , despite that Foreigner's attempt at usurping the King of the Monsters throne they never really learned Godzilla's secret . . . Yea , we know it's a guy in a costume , yea we know it's cheesy , but we don't care ! Once Godzilla's theme starts rolling , we know its time for him to rock !
Whether you believe Godzilla is a metaphor for what happens when Man tinkers with Science or a metaphor for the horrible devastation when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were laid to waste , Godzilla will always and forever belong to Japan and Toho . Always imitated , but never duplicated !
111 4 When you order up some Japanese Godzilla ( such as King Kong Versus Godzilla ) you expect them to pile on the cheese . Goofy visuals and sound effects , outrageous dubbed dialogue and a rediculous storyline . So why is Godzilla 2000 so deliciously different ? It's good ! The Japanese filmmakers have upped the ante on their homegrown lizard epics . The BIG G is better than I've ever seen him . There is excitement to spare ! Bright , eye-catching visuals and awesome sound effects and music . Lots of suspenseful scenes . In many ways G2000 is better than the Matthew Brodrick , American made Godzilla . Cheaper effects mean more for less money . It really shows on the screen ! The pyrotechnics are particularly good . I loved it when the fire would collect around Godzilla's mouth before spewing forward . Nicely done ! I'll admit I was a little disappointed that there wasn't the usual stuff to poke fun at in Godzilla 2000 . It was too good . Get the DVD for interesting commentary from the producers of the American release of Godzilla 2000 . I rented mine but will buy it next time I want seconds ! Hold the cheese !
112 4 This isn't a perfect movie and it's far from the best Godzilla movie , but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't entertained . This Godzilla put Devlin's Notzilla to complete and utter shame . GODZILLA destroys the city , not some trigger-happy bonehead GIs missing a target 200 feet tall . The plot was good ( although near the middle it got a LITTLE long ) and the characters were fine ( sketched well and staying in the background BEHIND Godzilla . ) Godzilla and Oruga sort of looked like Godzilla ' 98s iguanasaurus , but they were intimidating and scary . The ending was hilarious , too . If you're not a Godzilla fan this is kind of a gamble , but if you're a Godzilla fan , this will entertain or at least amuse you , and it'll wash the taste of G98 from your mouth nicely .
113 4 Incoherent plot , cheesy dialog , bad acting , a man in a rubber suit smashing a model Tokyo - in short everything a Godzilla movie is supposed to be . The Japanese take being stomped by a giant radioactive lizard with their usual stoicism , accepting Godzilla's periodic erruptions from the seabed with surprising equanimity . I never did catch the names of the human characters , not that it matters , they consist of a maverick scientist and Godzilla chaser , ( as in storm chaser ) who wants to ' study ' Godzilla . His cute little daughter who doubles as housekeeper and business manager . A pretty girl reporter , who forgets Godzilla's radioactive aura clouds camera film , ( like * everybody * knows that ! ) . The evil government official who wants to destroy Godzilla , ( sounds like a reasonable idea to me ) . And the usual military and scientific incompetents .
115 4 Godzilla makes a triumphant return to the big screen . This movie isn't a sequel to Godzilla vs Destroyer . It is a sequel to Godzilla : King of the Monsters ( 1954 ) . Special effects wise this movie is the best in terms of a Godzilla movie with several scenes being the best in Godzilla's screen career . They do succeed in bringing Godzilla closer to the quality of the new Gamera Films . I really enjoyed this movie and having seen both the Japanese and American Versions of this film . ( Not Deanzilla ) . The American Version of Godzilla 2000 is Superior . The Japanese Version moves along slowly in places with long peiods of silence . The American version inserted new music and sound effects into these places aw well as incorporating Godzilla's theme into the Final battle and closing credits . This is a top notch Godzilla film and I can't wait for the next one !
117 4 Godzilla lives ! Of course . Some of you more enthusiastic fans might recall the Japanese hit Godzilla vs . Destroyah from 1995 . In the final battle scene , Godzilla Jr . is basically killed by Destroyah , which enrages Godzilla , and futher fuses the nuclear meltdown . After Godzilla finishes Destroyah , he enters the meltdown stage . What most people do not notice is that Godzilla melts down over Godzilla Jr . releasing all the radiation , and ultimately reviving Godzilla Jr .
The Godzilla portrayed in Godzilla 2000 , is in fact Godzilla Jr . in full form , twice as powerful as his father . Many critics say that Toho killed their Godzilla to make way for the American version of Godzilla . Wrong . . the meltdown of Godzilla had nothing to do with the American version .
The most common question I am asked is What's up with Godzilla walking into the mouth of Orga at the end of Godzilla 2000 ? Well , if you recall from Godzilla 1985 , the scientists realize that Godzilla's brain is very bird-like . Orga learns of this while absorbing all the data from the Tokyo mainframe computers . As a last ditch effort , Orga lures Godzilla into it's mouth using the same bird-call that caused Godzilla to end up in a volcanic crater in 1985 . The plan backfires , and Godzilla uses the atomic heatray , which leads to Orga's demise .
Overall , a great movie ! Lots of action , and a nominal job at looping the voices ! This movie is another must-have for any Godzilla fan , and will shine like a diamond on your DVD shelf with the rest of your Godzilla library !
Steve super80 @ metrolynx.com
118 4 We all were looking forward to the Japanese verion with english subtitles and the additonal 9 minutes on this DVD . Well it may be there in the form of an easter egg . On the main menu - you will see midnight Club - can you get there ? Why is it there ? ? ? Does this unlock the Japanese movie version ? ? ? ?
All in all the american version is good and Zilla is back the way he should be ! NO Sony atomic lizard but the man in the suit !
Also like all Sony DVD's this one defaults to Dobly Pro Logic - so do not forget to do the Audio Set-up and put it in Digital Dobly 5.1
119 4 This is a short review , but , if you love the classic ' Zilla movies , this movie is EXACTLY what a Godzilla movie should be , none of that CGI monster crap , just pure and simple rubber monster filled fun .
121 4 Report from Godzilla Appreciation Network
Re : Godzilla 2000 and actions of Godzilla Prediction Network
Message begins :
The Toho Co . Ltd logo is synonymous with Godzilla , so its appearance preceding the movie gives one reassurance that this is NOT , I repeat , NOT a pedestrian Hollywood attempt that ended up as a cross between Jurassic Park and Independence Day .
Characters : Shinoda , the idealistic head of the a GPN branch , and his equally intelligent young daughter Io . They are easily the most likeable characters in the movie , and despite Godzilla's destructive nature , sees the leviathan as something beneficial . He says , Godzilla needs to be studied . He's a gold mine of knowledge . He must be contained but it's the worth the effort . The relationship between Shinoda and Io can be summarized in this dialogue exchange between Shinoda and Yuki , an initially aggravating reporter who makes a reluctant partner .
Yuki : Aren't you worried about your daughter
Shinoda : No , she worries about me .
As there is no mention or appearance of Shinoda's wife , it is safe to assume that the closeness between Shinoda and Io proceeds from this absence .
Then there is Katagiri , the 32 - year old head of the Crisis Control Intelligence Agency . His motivations seem to be personal in nature , namely against Shinoda and Godzilla , and that makes him more evil . His motto is a tried and true classic : if we don't understand it , destroy it . A rotten piece of sushi , this one . Cut him open and you'll find a block of ice instead of a heart . His assistant Miyasaka , who was a former colleague of Shinoda , has a spine of jelly , which comes into play later in the movie . Note - - compare the following acronyms and go figure : CCIA and CIA .
The subplot involving an alien spaceship whose intentions turn sinister result in one of the most exciting battle scenes , in which there is a subtle bashing of the 1998 movie . It also yields a cringing dialogue when it appears in view . Great Caesar's ghost ! As a reporter says , It's like a scene from an old sci-fi movie . He got that right .
Some Godzilla movies added to an ongoing myth , of what we learned about Godzilla . In G2K , we learn about his remarkable healing abilities in detail . Now we know how he ( or his ancestor ) survived the likes of Gigan , King Ghidrah , Mechagodzilla , and Megalon , among others .
This movie was best seen on the big screen . For once , the viewer gets a true perspective of the awesome size of Godzilla , whether he's within spitting distance or when his silhouette is looming over the reddish glare of the horizon in the early parts of the movie . The moral of this story-let the Japanese do Godzilla . They know best . After all , there's a small part of Godzilla in everyone of them .
End of report .
122 4 Godzilla resurfaces from the Pacific Ocean again , and his immediate intentions this time are to destroy every nuclear power plant in Japan , whether operating or not . But that campaign is cut short when the great grey behemoth has to go up against what at first is a rock barried at the bottom of the sea , than a UFO spaceship , than , finally , an oposing monster that mimics the physical characteristics of the creature from Roland Emmerich's 1998 American version of Godzilla . In fact , there are more than just a few visual similarities between G2K and movies made by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich ( too many to mention ) that was probably an intentional effect by director Takao Okawara , seeing the harsh criticism that Devlin and Emmerich recieved because of the derivitive elements in their films . The prank works much better than one would've thought , and the updated look of Godzilla is quite good , but the pace lags in several spots , becoming down-right boring in the middle , because Godzilla isn't on-screen that much , and the UFO isn't interesting enough to build a strong subplot around . Things pick up again towards the ending , with the two monsters locked in combat and smashing every usable scaled-down building in sight . Nice music score . Hopefully , the next Godzilla picture ( Godzilla X MegaGuirus , or something like that ) will be released in American theatres , but with G2K only grossing 9.74 million , it seems unlikely .
123 4 The title sums it up . Watching Godzilla's rampage through modern Japan is an exercise in smile-inducing fun . This is a good-natured movie that is what it is , no pretensions , no false advertising .
124 4 Long Live The King ! ! ! Godzilla is back . Better though smaller then before . I personally think that this movie is without a doubt one of the best Godzilla movies . The only thing that confuses me is what happened to the Junior Godzilla from Godzilla vs Destroyah ? Anyway , the plot is about a giant rock from space awakened from the bottom of the sea . Godzilla is also back . When the rock turns to metal , it forms a monster known as Orga . Godzilla fights Orga and kills him by using his Atomic ray in his mouth .
What I like about this movie is that Godzilla looks great and his Atomic ray looks like plasma . This movie is also exiting . Here are the stats for the new Godzilla .
Height : 180 feet
Length : 350 feet
Mass : 25,000 tons
walking speed : 40km per hour
Special Powers : Atomic ray , regenerative power
125 4 They've done a better job than with the Size Does Matter movie . Already there are COOP ( Copy Of Original Production ) videos and DVD's of 2 more Godzilla movies that are set after G2K ; I don't know if there's gonna be another one but it would be a good idea .
This movie is set up much like the movies that took place after Godzilla 1985 . The Japanese try to eliminate Godzilla and then they need him to kill a monster more powerful than him ? - please . Like Michael Buffer says Let's Get Ready to Crumble . Buy the movie or rent it . Either way you'll get a bang out of the G-Man .
127 4 This movie is okay . I did not like , The monster he fought . The scenes were realistic . Best Godzilla in 40 yrs . The Suit [ disappointed ] .
128 4 This movie is somewhat a nostalgic trip . It looks like it was filmed for the same budget as the old Godzilla movies . The acting is bad , the special effects are bad , the plot is barely there . But then the plot always was Godzilla gets up and tears up Japan . The problem is that this isn't the 50s , 60s , or 70s . The nostalgia isn't enough to carry you through this film . No , the revamped Godzilla wasn't any good , nor is this throwback . Your best bet is to go and get the original movies .
At least Mothra wasn't in this one .
129 4 Esta versión es mucho pero mucho mejor que la version americana de godzilla ( broderick ) , pienso que es mejor ya que muestra un godzilla como la mayoria de la gente lo recuerda un poderoso monstruo que es indestructible , pero que siempre termina defendiendo a la humanidad de grandes peligros .
En bastante impresionante ver lo efectos especiales sobre todo los referidos la pelea enter el alien y godzilla y como godzilla destruye al alien , la recomiendo tanyto como las versiones viejas en blanco y negro de las peliculas japonesas de monstruos y extraterrestres .
130 4 This movie starts out a little strange and has several moments in it that pokes fun at that bloated stinker of a movie with the simpson cast members and matthew brodrick . I am surprised that the american film critics thought that Toho was paying homage to that stinker instead of making fun of it .
This movie is a little slow in places and little Godzilla who we last saw standing over Godzilla's ' grave ' ( in Godzilla vs Destroyer ) is back . He has mutated a little and is a lot more of a mean tempered monster using his fire breath more then his ' father ' did . I like that fact that Toho has shown us when Godzilla is going to let loose with a Fire blast by showing the energy gathering around Godzilla's mouth instead of cuttng to a back or side scene showing Godzilla's back and fins lighting up before the blast .
The monster that Godzilla goes up against starts off as a big grey rock . That mutates into a silly looking monster who tries to eat Godzilla . The movie has some funny moments but is bogged down with a little too much dialoge . Godzilla is show as a force of nature and proves it by wreaking havoc just for the hell of it .
The fight scenes with the flying rock / mutated monster and Godzilla is pretty good but I couldn't buy the fact that Godzilla would just stand there and let a monster swallow him whole without putting up some sort of resistence .
131 4 After many years-and a failed Americanized attempt-Godzilla is back and better than ever . A new and improved Godzilla suddenly awakens and wreaks some havok , but why ? The answer : a giant UFO has been unearthed from the bottom of the sea and is hell-bent on destroying earth by stealing Godzilla's power to regenerate . Godzilla won't have none of that happening and confronts the alien in an all out , action packed , and one of the best Godzilla fights in recent memory . The dialogue this time out is rather good and the human story is acutally good . Fans of Rubber-zilla will be pleased , as this is one of the best Godzilla films since the original . If this kind of tempo keeps up , the two new Godzilla films slated to come out this year and next should be awsome .
132 4 Well , I was somehow disappointed by this movie . Let's talk about sound and picture quality : The picture is good , the sound is very good concerning the 5.1 resolution . I seldom listened to a more distinctive surround sound than in this movie . It is easy to locate the position of FX in the surrond area and this adds a lot to the movie . The story , well , what story ? There are two storylines at the beginning . Godzilla attacks Japan - yeah sure - and a 70 million year old UFO , hidden in a meteorite is excavated by the humans - now the CCI no longer G-Force . The leader of this Catastrophy whatsoever , his name is Katagiri , hates Godzilla and wants to destroy him , but is killed by Godzilla at the end . The story is not worked out though and the ' why he hates ' Godzilla not explained - as so many other things in this movie . The movie starts with Godzilla for about 30 minutes , then UFO 20 minutes and the rest both together , figthing . Humans ( CCI ) are responsible that the UFO awakens and gives the reason for the fight with Godzilla in the Shinjuku district in Tokyo . The UFO sits on top of the Tokyo town hall . . . then it tries to assimilate Godzilla by copying his cells and somehow generates a life form ( well , monster ) to fight against Godzilla . This happens in the last 30 minutes . The FX are CGI , rubber suit and minatures and look somehow cheap . The UFO looks amazingly boring and has somehow a bean shape . The cuts in the movie are disturbing in the sense that no continuing story can develop . Cut and another small story begins . The movie is somehow a collection of ideas of older Godzila movies , including the Emmerich Godzilla . The most amazing thing in this movie is the new look of Godzilla . It is a mixture between the ' old ' Godzilla and the Emmerich one ( The back comb is E , the body is old , the head a mixture ) . Not un-apealing but also not so inventive . The only difference to the old one I remarked is that the blast of Godzilla has become much stronger and it seems Godzilla destroys his opponents much easier than before . Which in fact makes the fighting scenes shorter - two blasts and over . The English dubbing is IMHO horrible and boring . The music score disappointing . Two times the old music score is quoted but in a new interpretation - changed tempo . In general I can not recommend this movie . The old ones are much better , I recommend Godzilla vs . Detroyah or vs . Space Godzilla . But for the fans of Godzilla it's sure worth to see it , but don't expect too much . Therefore 3 stars .
133 4 Hello . . . , there is no pure , Japanese version on the disk . but it is still worth getting for the interesting extras ; which include the changes , reasons and backstage with godzilla and trainers .
134 4 When I saw the american version of Godzilla I thought that it was so bad that Godzilla was gone forever , then I see Godzilla 2000 and my faith is once again restored . This is the Godzilla that I grew up with I am so glad that it was released in America because the after seeing the american version I had a bad taste in my mouth that I needed to get rid of and seeing this was just what I needed . If you like Godzilla then you should definitely see this one .
135 4 Every time a TOHO Godzilla film is released in North America , the big studios butcher the heck out of it . It happened with the first Godzilla film , it happened with Godzilla 1985 ( return of Godzilla in Japan ) and again it happened here . This movie was sliced and diced . Sony cut 9 minutes of footage , added dialogue here and there and changed the soundtrack . How can they do that and call it the same movie . . . If you want to see this movie the way it was meant , go on ebay and buy the Japanese version DVD with the english subtitles , it'll cost you about [ $ ] but its much better .
136 4 After Japanese audiences flocked to theaters to see Godzilla die in the excellent 1995 film Godzilla vs . Destroyer , he was not supposed to surface again until 2004 , for his 50th Anniversary . Unfortunately Hollywood made their disastrous 1998 turd which left a bad taste in fans ' mouths , so Toho went and made their own Godzilla movie in 1999 which , unfortunately , turned out just as bad as Emmerich's film . Thus , Godzilla 2000 flopped in both Japan and the US , starting a bad trend for the mostly terrible Millennium series of films , none of which managed to ignite the box office the way the Heisei films did .
Yes , Godzilla is impervious to conventional weapons again . Yes , he has his atomic breath back . Yes , he's massive and imposing again . But the movie still sucks . For one , the new Godzilla suit is the worst since 1968 ' s Son of Godzilla . The suit , which is stiff and rubbery , looks ridiculous from a dead-on perspective ( or any perspective ) . Toho should have rehired Koichi Kawakita , who created routinely fantastic suits for the Heisei series , all of which were incredibly detailed and visually impressive , particularly Biollante , Spacegodzilla , MechaKing Ghidorah , and Destroyah . The lack of an animatronic Godzilla head , which was a staple of the Heisei films , is also absent , which means Godzilla barely does any emoting .
Worse yet , Godzilla literally disappears from the entire middle section ! The movie devotes far too much time to the human characters , none of which are remotely interesting or likable , and the ridiculous UFO that's disguised as a giant rock ( a giant rock that can fly ) . Orga , the monster that Godzilla battles towards the end , is easily one of the most forgettable kaiju in the series . The movie is overlong and tedious , with some effects that look as if they were out of one of the 60s films . In fact , Godzilla 2000 probably has some of the worst matte shots in the series , along with one of the worst musical scores . Overall , this film is a bore , with only some decent cinematography and hilarious dubbing to recommend it .
137 4 First off , the briefly-used CGI in this movie , unlike 99.99999% of CGI , is actually tolerable . It still causes Godzilla to look more like one of those ' Pokemon ' creatures on the Nintendo 64 ' s ' Pokemon Stadium ' game , but its better than the CGI of almost every other movie that uses CGI , because the CGI in those movies looks like it was lifted from the original Playstation , or , occassionally , something even lower than that .
Another redeeming factor of the CGI is that , even though they used the crapness that is CGI , they didn't use it very often . This movie would have been crap is Godzilla was CGI for more than the 10 - 15 seconds the CGI Godzilla was shown .
The G-suit used in this timeline's movies has a neck that is as thick as G's torso . Essentially , it looks as if the shoulders are lower down .
This gets five stars because its the second Godzilla movie that I haven't disliked any part of . Normally , apart from Godzilla movies that Rodan is already in , I would say it would be better if Rodan was in it , but actually Rodan being in this movie would be very random .
There is a scientific organisation that want to study Godzilla . Giving them competition is a more military-based organisation that wants to kill Godzilla . Finally , an alien ship appeared and ended up launching a giant monster known as Orga , which had mutated due to the stolen DNA of Godzilla .
138 4 . . . against the dubbed Godzilla films .
With the advent of DVD technology as well as movie-goers who can read , I was hoping that Godzilla 2000 would be released in the form in which it was first released : that is , in Japanese . And with English subtitles . After securing a few G films in their original language I cannot watch dubbed and edited for Americans versions . I found the dubbed voices , even if they matched , to be so annoying , so insulting , so distracting . . . that the experience was painful .
Story-wise , it's OK , but lacks the surprising sophistication of G vs . Biolante ( Japanese-language version / English subtitles ) . Suit-wise , I didn't like it , but since this is G-Jr . of G vs . Destroyah I understand . General-effects wise , the monster battles in this one are anemic.END
139 4 Was made as a response to the American Godzilla , with bad results . Story wise it was ok , except the 40 minutes in the middle of the movie when there's no Godzilla , it slows to a crawl .
People who praised this claiming it was superior to that remake a few years back seem to overlook that the movie cribbed alot of scenes straight out of the Godzilla remake , only not so well done , as well as cribbed scenes out of ID4 also . The cg missles look phony , the particles of the missle trails look too flat . The blueangel jet dive looked too awkward . Only the CG tanks looked alright . The composite shots with Godzilla set on a live action plate look bad , the helicopter shot of him drifts wildy against the background , showing that he's not really there .
Or the perspective of the creature doesn't match the perspective of the background .
The alien ship , which looks like a flying bedpan , lacks any discernable detail which could give it scale , and in the end looks too much like a toy .
As for the Godzilla suit , well despite the smaller design , doesn't appear to be any more mobile than the previous suits .
The spines have been influenced by the American Godzilla , only this one has spines yanked out to extreme length , hampering further mobility for the actor inside . On the dvd , there are shots of behind the scenes footage which bear an uncanny resemblance to Bobcat Golthwait as Godzilla in One Crazy Summer !
It's too bad some of the miniatures look worse than shots produced by Toho in the sixties . They are supposed to hone the craft , not go backward . In the sixties , they weren't going retro , the FX work were comparable to anything Hollywood came out with at the time .
141 4 While this movie is a step up from Godzilla Tokyo SOS , it is still not as good as Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla II or Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla . Let's face it , most of us watch these movies to see Godzilla stomp on Tokyo and for the great monster battle scenes . Unfortunately that seems to be lacking in this movie . Godzilla battles a UFO that shots plant vines or something at him and at some point turns into an Alien . But the battles are not that good and they take place about an hour into the movie . There just aren't that many good visuals in this movie and there is a lot of BAAAAD CGI work that looks like it was done on somebody's home computer . So for these reasons I give it 3 stars .
