Godzilla Raids Again [Import]

FILM HISTORY

This film made in 1955 is the very first sequel made to the original "Gojira" aka "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" in its US release. The film was rushed into production in order to capitalize on the popularity of the first film. In the US it was apparently released by a different film company than the first film, so the title was changed such that the word "Godzilla" didn't even appear in it! The US theatrical release title was "Gigantis the Fire Monster." The film has been released in the US under other titles over the years, such as "The Return of Godzilla" and as "Godzilla Raids Again" when it was on VHS tape. The original Japanese title was apparently, "Gojira no gyakushű" or "Gojira Strikes Again" in English.

I am a huge Godzilla fan and have been since I was a small child, and in all the years I watched these films on TV, in the theater, and on home video, I've never seen this film broadcast on television and I apparently missed it when it was available on VHS. I didn't even know it existed until I saw it listed in Michael Weldon's Psychotronic Film Guide years ago. It seems that the fact that this film was not released in the US by the same company that released the original film has doomed this one to obscurity for an extremely long time. However, this situation is now corrected with the release of the film to DVD.

FILM SYNOPSIS, PRODUCTION TRIVIA, COMMENTS

As was stated in the original Gojira, it does turn out that there are more of these monstrous creatures in the sea than just the one Godzilla that was destroyed at the end of the first film. This film is more of a typical 1950s "monster smash 'em up" picture than the original film and less of a statement on nuclear horror. This sets the tone for many Godzilla pictures to come. There were also some apparent changes to the Gojira costume for this film as well as to the focus of the story. It also began the now long-standing tradition of matching Godzilla up with other monsters as Angiurus, sometimes called Anguilas, makes his debut in this film. He's the monster that looks a bit like an ankylosaur with a touch of giant hedgehog.

This film is a fairly average entry in the Godzilla series with little of the serious dramatic metaphors for and references to nuclear war so prevalent in the original Japanese version of the first film, but kaiju completists and monster movie fans will probably want to see this film because it has been so rarely seen or available up until now. The Japanese version is coherent, fairly well-acted and enjoyable. The American version is so hilariously bad that it's hugely entertaining as unintentional comedy! The American version is filled with nonsensical dialogue that has nothing to do with the original Japanese, it's loaded with cheesy stock footage that does not appear in the original film and it's voiced-over by a narrator (Keye Luke) that NEVER stops talking. Seriously, the American producer insisted on non-stop narration that never shuts up and insists on describing things that are clearly portrayed visually in the film. It's just terrible, but funny terrible! The American version would have been a great subject for Mystery Science Theater 3000. Be sure to listen to the commentary track on the American version after watching the film once without it. It's informative and highly entertaining.

DVD INFORMATION ON CONTENT INCLUDING EXTRA FEATURES

This DVD contains both the original 1955 Japanese version of the film as well as the 1959 American release dubbed in English. George Takei (Star Trek) and Keye Luke (Charlie Chan, Gremlins) both supplied voices for the English version. The subtitles for the uncut Japanese version were newly produced for this release. Like the recent excellent 2-disc DVD release of the original Gojira, this disc has commentary and featurettes by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski.

Note that the general release date for this DVD was originally supposed to be in November 2006, but it has been pushed back till spring 2007. This information comes directly from the godzillaondvd website, which is the official website of the producers of this DVD and the only place where the DVD can be purchased until general release.

I'm giving this release 3 stars for the movie and 5 stars for the great DVD treatment for a final rating of 4 stars. Monster flick fans can celebrate now that "Godzilla Raids Again" raids again!

The second Godzilla movie is a transitional entry in the series. Serious, but not as grim as "Godzilla, King of the Monsters," we see the first traces of the camp humor that became a trademark of Japanese sci-fi. It is one of the few movies of the series that does a "hand-off" from the previous flick. Dedicated fans will recognize Dr. Yamane from the first Godzilla film. In addition, Godzilla (also known as "Gigantis") meets Angilus, the first of many bizarre enemies. In somber B/W photography, the story of dueling monsters on the loose unfolds. This time it's Osaka and not Tokyo, threatened with fiery destruction. As usual, the monsters invade populous areas, destroy buildings, and threaten civilization. As usual, conventional military hardware has no effect. The English-dubbed dialogue is occasionally hilarious. The special effects and other production values are typical of Japanese sci-fi. This movie, virtually overlooked through the years, initially appeared in the USA as "Gigantis the Fire Monster." It played on a double feature program back in 1959/1960 with "Teenagers From Outer Space" (reviewed elsewhere in ...). Godzilla movies are an acquired taste that delight fans and repulse "normal" viewers. For aging baby-boomers, and other serious collectors of low-budget sci-fi, this movie is a recommended treat. :-)

(previous film "Godzilla, King of the Monsters")

Summary: Two prehistoric monsters bring their ages old battle to the city of Osaka, Japan. Only one will remain standing ... will it be the current champion Godzilla, or the challenger Angilas?

"Godzilla Raids Again" (aka "Gigantis, the Fire Monster"), while far from being the greatest G film ever made, is certainly not the worst either, yet, for some reason, this entry in the series has become something of a "lost" classic. Being one of the harder G movies to come by, any fan looking for this video to add to their collection should do so upon finding a copy. I realize that I've only given "Godzilla Raids Again" a rating of 2 stars, but a rating of 2 and a half stars would certainly be more appropriate.

"Godzilla Raids Again" is noteworthy mainly for being the 2nd, and last, G movie to be filmed in Black and White, and for being the first film in the series to feature a second monster, the spiky Angilas (one of my personal favorite monsters in G history). "Godzilla Raids Again" also serves as a kind of blueprint for future G films (particularly those from the 2nd, or Heisei, series of G films, and the 3rd, or Alternate Universe, series of G films), in that this entry lacks most of the haunting effect the original film had and focuses more on the serious action/adventure aspect that would come to be prevalent in later G films.

(Next film "King Kong Vs. Godzilla")