GODZILLA 2000 (Godzilla 2000: Millennium in Japan)

Objective Synopsis:
Japan is at odds about what to do about the Godzilla problem. One group, the GPN (Godzilla Prediction Network: "good guys"), wants to study Godzilla. The other, the CCI (Crisis Control Institute: "bad guys"), wants to destroy him. Godzilla makes the decision seemingly easy by coming ashore and trampling Japan's infrastructure. Then, pretty much out of nowhere, a UFO appears and attacks Godzilla. The UFO nestles in Tokyo and mutates into the monster Orga, setting up the final confrontation with Godzilla.

Logical flaw:
Even though the movie wanted you to sympathize with the GPN, I was all for the CCI's line of reasoning. GPN: We shouldn't get rid of Godzilla. CCI: Meanwhile, we let Godzilla destroy Tokyo?

Favorite Part:
This is easy. Godzilla rising out the water and marching into Tokyo with the classic Godzilla March by Ifukube playing. I've always wanted to hear that in a theater. I also liked the improved effects since the Heisei series: the jets and helicopters don't look like toys, plus all the missles actually hit Godzilla! There is a terrific matte with Godzilla marching alongside the GPN car at the beginning, too.

Part I could do without:
Some of the mattes didn't work really well. The scenes with Godzilla in the water vs the military looked like someone cut & pasted Godzilla in on a home computer. The UFO and the building it sits on never looks realistic, either.

My take:
Ever since I renewed my interest in Godzilla, I've always wanted to see one of his modern movies on the big screen. While I enjoyed this movie, I didn't like it as much as movies like Godzilla vs Destroyer or some of the other 90s Godzilla movies. Perhaps because even though Orga had regenerative powers, I didn't see him as powerful as Destroyer or MechaGodzilla. And for me, a Godzilla movie is only as good as the enemy monster. On the other hand, the city stomping scenes in the beginning and end were among the best in the series, as were the military vehicles and city miniatures. It was nice to see 90s Gamera-style effects lavished on a real monster.

Final Thoughts:
I went to this movie with some skepticism. Before the movie, I didn't like Godzilla's large purple spikes and reduced size, plus I was unsure whether I'd be able to endure the dubbing. The visceral thrill of seeing him on the big screen set aside all those doubts and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Ignore the negative movie reviews, box office stats, and "fan" complaints (some of whom only seem to like Godzilla '54, GvsMothra'64, and flying turtles), and go wax nostalgic over the Saturday afternoon TV Godzilla movies! Schrooonk!

For the uninitiated: I should add that my web page http://www.gvsdestoroyah.com covers Godzilla vs Destroyer (1995), the last Japanese movie before this one. Godzilla 2000 is not a sequel, it is part of a new timeline. The 1998 TriStar movie (with Matthew Broderick) has absolutely nothing to do with this movie, either.

Thanks Mike! I think that's the first review I've received where someone managed to shoehorn a plug for their site into the review. If you would like to contribute a review, drop me a line at gleep9@hotmail.com. Now pop on out of here to either the Godzilla Movie or Main page.

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