Godzilla vs Megalon

Rating: 2 (out of four)

This movie has become more polarizing over the years, mainly because more people like it. Some Godzilla fans think this rating is too low, others think too high, but for me the fact this move was even made in a Japanese movie industry that was in big financial trouble due to both the economy and television is impressive. The budget was low, and Godzilla as a character was waning, which resulted in some recycled footage and a short run time.

More importantly, the movie’s fun! The tokusatsu / Ultraman influence is all over the screen given Jet Jaguar’s prominence (the movie could be titled Jet Jaguar versus Megalon), the Seatopians are baffling, fun and corny (Toga-clad leader? check. Exotic dancers? Check. Mean thugs to do their bidding on land? check) and the short run time means you won’t get bored - at least until the final fight.

There are other things to like about the movie - Megalon’s one of my favorite monster designs, the toga-clad leader of Seatopia, Jet Jaguar as a design, the fly 70s outfits, Gigan showing up in the movie at all, the funky music score, and the toga-clad leader of Seatopia.

Even if I avoid Seatopia jokes and Godzilla’s general irrelevance, there’s plenty to question here, too. The lower budget meant a lot of fights on the wide-open plains, and the final fight in general was bad for me - too comical in its wrestling influence.

Overall, the movie is a fun diversion, but not the kind that will draw me back for repeat viewings.

(Thanks to Michael Nelsen for the art!)

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