Review : Godzilla Vs Megalon, Jun Fukuda, 1973

GODZILLA VS MEGALON

Original Title : Gojira Tai Megaro

Directed by Jun Fukuda

Written by Jun Fukuda, Takeshi Kimura

With Katsuhiko Sasaki, Hiroyuki Kawase, Yutaka Hayashi, Robert Dunham, Kotaro Tomita, Wolf Otsuki

Year : 1973

Country : Japan

Length : 82 min

Rating : 7 / 10

SYNOPSIS

A gang of criminals robbed Jet Jaguar, a robot that they want to use as bait for the monster Megalon and then destroy the city of Tokyo...

REVIEW

Jun Fukuda signs here his fourth sequel in the Godzilla series (he directed a total of five), a year after his "GODZILLA VS GIGAN" ("CHIKYU KOGEKI MEIREI: GOJIRA TAI GAIGAN").

In the cast of this movie, we can find the usual persons like Katsuhiko Sasaki that we can also notice in "MECHADODZILLA VS GODZILLA" ("MEKAGOJIRA NO GYAKUSHU"), "GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE" ("GOJIRA TAI BIORANTE") and "GOJIRA VS KINGUGIDORA", Hiroyuki Kawase who also participated to "GODZILLA VS THE SMOG MONSTER" ("GOJIRA TAI HEDORA") and Kotaro Tomita in "GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER" ("SAN DAIKAIJU: CHIKYU SAIDAI NO KESSEN") and "MECHAGODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN" ("MEKAGOJIRA NO GYAKUSHU").

A people living underground undergoes the consequences of the submarine nuclear tests done by Japan and want to have their revenge by sending Megalon in order to destroy the Earth. To guide Megalon, they want to steal a robot (Jet Jaguar) that is being built by two scientists.

Based on a very light scenario, this thirteenth opus was realised during the less glorious era of the series. To give it more impact, the Toho decided to include very trendy elements at the time: super-heroes and robots. That's why Jet Jaguar, robot created by two scientists, would make its first appearance in "GODZILLA VS MEGALON". Let's also stress the arrival of a new creature which completes the animal section of the Nippon firm: Megalon, a kind of giant cockroach with two giant drillers where its legs should be and able to throw rays from its feelers. Unfortunately for them, this episode would be the only where they fought as, just like Gigan (for whom it's the last fight here), they won't ever be seen back on screens.

After half an hour of semi-spying and chase with a very much of a seventies soundtrack (which doesn't really match), the action really starts with the beginning of the world destruction by Megalon...

But the humans succeed in taking back the control of Jet Jaguar and this last goes and finds Godzilla, the only one able to stop Megalon. The villains, on the other side, aren't out of resources and call for Gigan came (from where? We don't know) to rescue them!

Then begins what looks more like a wrestling match than a fight between giant monsters, with Megalon and Gigan on one side and, on the other side, Jet Jaguar who fights alone while waiting for his radioactive friend.

While the movie was quite serious till then, this four-monster fight is ludicrous, just like in "EBIRAH VS. GODZILLA", with its tennis match! But, here, it goes further, as we can notice Godzilla doing some kind of Karate poses, Megalon jumping like a rabbit, Godzilla jumping with the two feet forward, Jet Jaguar that shake hands with Godzilla, Godzilla that starts a dance for victory...

Great anything signed by Jun Fukuda, which allows the audience to have a great laugh! However, the first era Godzilla fan might like it a bit less.

Note from Oh My Gore ! : 7 on 10

Published on 2004-09-03