Japan’s answer to Kong in an insanely action packed monster miasma, overflowing with super warriors, cool weapons, snazzy aircraft and more destruction than the last three Godzilla films combined.
Screened as part of NZIFF 2005
Godzilla Final Wars 2004
Gojira fainaru uozu
Seeing the big G do his thang is possibly the guiltiest big-screen pleasure ever. If you’ve never witnessed this monstrous pop-culture phenomenon in all his Tokyo-demolishing glory, this could be your last chance to see him on the silver screen. Yes, it saddens us to announce that this could be his final cinematic outing. Luckily this new Godzilla pic, made to celebrate his 50th anniversary, will awaken even the staunchest kaiju fans from their couches and pull ‘em back into the cinema – where else can you see giant rubber monsters performing WWF moves on each other as towns are flattened, and the populace point to the heavens and exclaim ‘Gojira!’? Production company Toho chose the manic young director of cult hits Versus and Azumi to helm the big lizard’s birthday bash, and his chaotic style brings a whole new aspect to the series. He’s made an insanely action-packed monster miasma overflowing with super warriors, cool weapons, snazzy aircraft and more destruction than the last three Godzilla films combined. This epic brings back the cool black trenchcoated aliens from Planet X, determined to invade earth once again. They set loose several big-screen beasties, then sneakily pretend to save earth’s arse by capturing them after the carnage. No city is left untouched in this who’s who of rubber behemoths – it’s an all-out worldwide stompfest with Gigan, Ebirah, Manda, Mothra, Rodan, Hedorah, King Seesar, Monster X and (gulp) even little Minilla (baby Godzilla) going rubber toe-to-rubber toe. So what are you waiting for? Grab some popcorn and prepare to regress to being that wide-eyed kid your cynical old self forgot ever existed. — Ant Timpson