Been doing Godzilla Month events for the last couple of
years now, they’ve become sort of an annual Anime Corner tradition since I
revived it back in 2023 for the arrival of the franchises 70th
Anniversary. Well Godzilla Month IV has
just concluded on a major milestone.
With the review of Godzilla vs. Megagirus, I’ve finally reviewed all six
movies in the Godzilla Millenium Era Series.
That’s one series down, two to go (the Reiwa Era that began with 2016’s
Shin Godzilla is still ongoing so I don’t count that yet…even though I am technically
caught up on that one too). Anyway, what
better time to do a ranking than now at the conclusion of Godzilla Month
IV. So, onto today’s Special Top 6 list
for Top 5 Wendesday, the Top 6 Millenium Era Godzilla Movies.
#6-Godzilla vs. Megagirus Our most recent Anime Corner review is also by far and
away the weakest of the Millenium Era.
Where to begin?
The dumber than
usual villains?
The by the numbers
Godzilla basics made boring?
The
lackluster title Kaiju antagonist looking like a clone of Batra from Godzilla
vs. Mothra?
All of that is true but
there’s also the imposing of the new version of Godzilla into the classic 1954
footage and that just feels so wrong.
There’s very little to say about Godzilla vs. Megagirus really, it’s
that forgettable and easily one of the worst entries in the entire Godzilla
franchise.
#5-Godzilla: Tokyo SOS
Tokyo SOS The only direct sequel to another Millenium
film we’ll discuss shortly.
Coming off
such a strong series entry, the follow up takes several steps backwards.
Taking fan favorite heroine Akane out of the
picture robs the conclusion of this two part epic of any emotional resonance
built up in Part 1.
And while the action
looks pretty good this far into the Millenium Era, it gets pretty boring after
its two preceding films changed up the formula so perfectly in different ways.
It’s not as unnecessary as Godzilla vs.
Megagirus, but Tokyo SOS did a lot to derail the momentum the series had built
up to this point.
#4-Godzilla: Final Wars
As the 50
th Anniversary film, Final Wars has a
lot of hype to live up to.
Too bad it’s
a movie at odds with itself.
It’s half
Godzilla celebration, having the King of the Monsters enjoy a world tour where he
kicks the crap out of every monster he’s ever faced…and that’s awesome.
The other half is a Super Sentai Matrix movie
that might be fine as it’s own dumb but fun action movie but takes away from
why we’re all really here.
Still,
Godzilla dunking on every Kaiju dumb enough to get in his way is incredibly
entertaining. And the human cast has some great stand outs like MMA Star Don
Frye as the second most dangerous force on the planet (next to Godzilla) and Kazuki
Kitamura hamming it up as the films main antagonist.
Still, when it comes to being the landmark
half century celebration of Big G…yeah there’s way better films that could fill
that prestigious role.
#3-Godzilla 2000
After the shameful debacle that was Tristar’s Godzilla in
1998, Toho needed to remind the world that the King of the Monsters was no
joke.
Hence why Godzilla 2000 kicks off
the Millenium Era with a safe but ultimately effective movie.
It takes Godzilla back to his roots as a
force of nature who is on no ones side but his own.
He’s not running from the Military and he
isnt keen on protecting anything.
Godzilla’s
here to kick ass and cause a ton of property damage.
While the movie could have been a more
updated retread of 1985’s Return of Godzilla, Godzilla 2000 even goes the extra
step to give Godzilla a Kaiju rival to fight.
Even if it is a bit too familiar and nothing game changing, Godzilla
2000 does it’s job just fine: remind the world why Godzilla is King and why
seeing him kick Zilla’s ass in Godzilla: Final Wars is so freaking rewarding.
#2-Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
It’s funny.
Given
all of the Neon Genesis Evangelion influence in this one, I wouldn’t be shocked
if Toho tried approaching Hideaki Anno to direct long before they got him for
Shin Godzilla.
The resurrection of
another fan favorite villain is done in such a unique way and it makes Mecha G
even more volatile and unpredictable as his flesh and blood counterpart.
The movie also gives us the sexy and
competent Akane, a pilot with a chip on her shoulder who must learn to get
along with the mecha behemoth if she’s to save a world and face her
demons.
The awesome and well executed
action scenes also prove that decades after their first throwdown in Godzilla
vs. Mechagodzilla, these two rivals haven’t run out of ways to kick each others
asses in spectacular fashion. (Also seriously, why not call this one Godzilla
vs. Mechagodzilla III for a trifecta title across 3 eras?
Never getting over that).
#1-Godzilla, Mothra & King Ghidorah: Giant
Monsters All Out Attack
If Godzilla 2000 was too safe and Godzilla vs. Megagirus
was too forgettable, the GMK is the “hold my Asahi” of the Millenium Era.
It not only breathes new life into the
franchise, it also breaks all of the rules in the best ways.
Godzilla being possessed by the souls of
everyone lost in the Pacific Theater during World War 2 is brilliant.
Now he’s a pure rage monster and has a ton of
spirits whose fury cant be quelled.
The
change in role for King Ghidorah is nice as well after he’s been the long time
antagonist and teaming him up with Mothra brings all the carnage you’d expect
(plus Barugon too).
It’s a film that’s
both awesome and terrifying to watch, exactly what a Godzilla film should
always be and, inverting my statement from earlier, if Godzilla vs. Megagirus
is one of the worst entries in the entire Godzilla series, then GMK is definitely
one of the best, hands down.
(Side note:
GMK also gets an added boost of talent by having Shusuke Kaneko, celebrated director
of the Heisei Gamera Trilogy, at the helm…and we may be looking at those apparent
masterworks in the near future).
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