Mothra vs. Godzilla
Starring: Akira Takarada, Yuriko Hoshi, Hiroshi Koizumi, Yu Fujiki, Emi ItoDirector: Ishirô Honda
Studio: Sony Wonder (Video)
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Running Time: 176 minutes
DVD Release: April 3rd 2007
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DVD Review
After a fierce typhoon, a mysterious gigantic egg washes ashore. The twin fairies of Infant Island plea for the egg's return to Mothra, its rightful owner, but it's too late - greedy promoters have turned it into an amusement park attraction. Meanwhile Godzilla reawakens and tramples across Japan, heading straight for the big egg. Can Mothra save her offspring from Godzilla? Will Japan survive this epic monster battle? Directed by Ishiro Honda, MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA (1964) is widely considered the best of all Godzilla sequels, with an all-star Toho cast and exciting special effects. Classic Media presents the original Japanese-language version with English subtitles in glorious Toho Scope, plus the classic English-dubbed version originally released in the U.S. as GODZILLA VS. THE THING. Special Features Includes Japanese and English dubbed versions of the film Audio Commentary Poster Slide Show Akira Ifukube biography featurette Original Japanese trailer
User Reviews
GOOD ENTRY IN THE SERIES BETTER TREATMENT FOR FILMS - Rating: 3/5
I have said this in my past reviews of the Godzilla series, I grew up on these films and I have fond memories of watching them, but they are very juvenile. Even the Japanese versions are juvenile.....Having said that, I wish that these films were cleaned up. The print here isn't bad, but looks like there is room for much improvement. The features are quite good and considering the age of the material it is nice to see some of this stuff. I think 3 stars for any of these Godzilla movies is fair.....5 stars? Come on this isn't "Gone with the Wind" Please(Big G fans)don't have a hissy fit. I'm not really bashing "old radiation breath" he is a part of my childhood. If the prints were cleaned up and the extras were longer I'd give the release 5 stars. As it is, it's a fun entry in a juvenile series.
One Godzilla film you MUST have in your collection - Rating: 5/5
After his giant battle with King Kong, the monster known as Godzilla returns. Only this time, he's up against a giant moth who's preventing him from attacking more civilians. In 1964, the Toho Company released the fourth movie in the Godzilla series, "Mothra vs. Godzilla." Known in the United States as "Godzilla Vs. The Thing," the film was a product of the celebrated creative team of Shinichi Sekizawa (screenplay), Ishiro Honda (human drama), and Eiji Tsuburaya (special effects). Mothra Vs. Godzlla is known by fans everywhere as "Godzilla's finest hour," for its good sound effects, tone and script. It's also the most popular and memorable film in the franchise. Mothra Vs. Godzilla is widely considered to be the best of all the sequels. Watching it again after so many years, I find that statement to be very true. This is one of the best Godzilla movies out there. If you want to see Godzilla in his prime, then this is the movie you have watch; for it truly is his finest hour.
After a giant typhoon hits Tokyo, a news reporter named Sakai and his photographer Junko take pictures of the damage. Later that same day, the local villagers discover a giant monster egg washed ashore on the beach. The villagers salvage it and scientists come to study the egg. No one knows whose egg it is and where it came from. While Sakai and Junko try to ask Professor Miura questions about the egg, an entrepreneur of Happy Enterprises named Kumayama scurries the scientists off and explains that he bought the egg from the local villagers. Instead of letting scientists study the egg, Kumayama wants to make it apart of a tourist attraction. Kumayama wants to make more cash by having customers pay to see the giant egg hatch. Sakai, Junko, and Professor Miura are disgusted by the idea and believe that Kumayama has no right to keep the egg. As Kumayama discusses the tourist attraction with his boss, they are visited by two tiny twin girls.
The two girls explain that they are from Infant Island and that the egg belongs to a monster named Mothra. The twins later leave with nothing after pleading with the two men on giving the egg back. The twins then turn to the newspaper journalists for help, but still fail. Later, Sakai, Junko, and Professor Miura then go out testing for radioactivity in an industrial area. That's when Godzilla suddenly pops out of the beach (where he supposedly left off after his fight with King Kong) and begins to attack the surrounding cities. With very little hope that the military will defeat Godzilla, another reporter suggests that the friendly Mothra might be able to get rid of the monster. Sakai, Junko, and Professor Miura then head to infant island to warn the villagers that Mothra's egg might be in danger, resulting in a climatic battle between Mothra and Godzilla.
This was one of the many Godzilla movies I remembered watching as a kid. Back then I was always fascinated with Godzilla, so I was pretty heart broken to see him defeated at the hands of Mothra's babies. I was young at the time, so I wasn't as into the story. I always figured that Godzilla was a good guy, so I was really ticked off when I first saw this movie. It wasn't until I got older that I realized Godzilla was the bad guy. In fact, the early movies presented Godzilla as a menace. A punishment for the sins of World War 2. A result from the fallout of a hydrogen bomb test. A giant fire breathing villain with a sweet tooth for destruction (alright you get the idea). The other monster in the movie, Mothra, is actually a nice creature. A sort of "love" monster if you will. This film marks the first appearance of Mothra in the Godzilla series. Mothra would later appear in many other Godzilla films.
Mothra Vs. Godzilla is one of the key movies in the Godzilla franchise, due mostly to its popularity. It's one of my all time favorite monster movies. It has a great story, a good cast of characters and a great script. It's top notch compared to many other films in the series. If this isn't already in your collection then you should be ashamed of yourself. Mothra Vs. Godzilla is a must own for monster movie and Godzilla buffs alike. Much like the previous re-releases, Genius Products attached both the original Japanese-language and English-dubbed versions of the movie. As always, the Japanese cut of the movie is better (and less confusing). Once again it's not jam packed with bonus material, but there is a commentary track and "Akira Ifukube biography" featurette. If you're looking for a great monster movie then look no further. The Toho Master re-release of Mothra Vs. Godzilla is one that you must have in your collection.
Mothra Vs Godzilla - Rating: 4/5
I like the fact that Toho is releasing all there older Monster movies in a new dvd case.I look forward to seeing more of the movies being released so I can add them to my collection. One thing I would have liked to have seen with the movies being redone is to have the audio done in 5.1 dolby sound, than the standard audio format that they were originally done in.
the terror of the titles - Rating: 3/5
This fine film is destroyed by the titles. Some are on the film itself and some are on the black band below the image. The former are hard to read. But worst of all, some are split between both of the above and will give you a horrible headache. Why doesn't anyone seem to care about the placement of titles? A fun film that deserves better.
This is how you do it! - Rating: 5/5
This is one of the best re-issue DVD series I've seen in a long time. Classic Media knows what we want and gives it to us.
* A great-looking transfer of a classic film.
* Informative commentary
* Not too expensive
The best thing about this series of re-issues, is, of course, the inclusion of the dubbed American versions alongside the original Japanese versions. This allows the hardcore Godzilla fans to see the movies as they were originally made, while giving stoned couch potatoes the campy dubbed verisons they remember from Saturday afternoon Creature Features ("Hey look! His lips are moving but he's not making any sound! Haw haw haw haw!").
A lot of DVD companies would either confuse the consumer with two separate releases, or release "Deluxe 2-DVD" versions of every movie (as with the original Godzilla movie), but Classic Media gets it right by putting both versions on the same disc and releasing it at an affordable price (with great graphics to boot).
It doesn't hurt, either, that this is one of the best of the original Godzilla sequels, presented in all its fabulous widescreen Tohoscope glory. Even if you're just a casual Godzilla fan, this one belongs in your collection. As for me, I can't wait for the release of the Ghidorah movies and War of the Gargantuas later this year! Godzilla-lovers rejoice!
