So usually after the introduction, I first recap the last parts and then explore other non-film elements of Godzilla, but this time I'm not. I'm going strait into the films, as I've covered all other parts of Godzilla in and out, and after the films of this series I'll recap the entire franchise. So for one more time, here we go.

Godzilla (1998)

Monsters - Godzilla, Baby Godzilla

Lowdown - First off, I'd like to state that this really belongs to the Heisei era, but since it's what gave the motivation to the Millennium series and is only referenced by 1 film in it, I'll put it here. This film came to being when a certain American director made a giant box office hit and like all other money making directors, was given the right to do whatever he wanted. That director was Roland Emmerich and the film was Independence Day. I will say that ID is his best film to date, but looking at his other films...that's not saying much. The film would have a pretty good cast however, with Mathew Broderick, Jean Reno, Harry Shearer, Hank Azaria, and Maria Patillio (that's two out of the 5 Simpsons cast).

This reboot starts off in the 40's with the French doing nuclear testing in French Polynesia, with some iguanas being hit with radiation and an egg mutating at birth. Time moves on to 1998 when something huge attacks and destroys a Japanese fishing boat. The US Army recruits Dr. Nick Tatopoulos to investigate with two other scientists (the attracted red head Dr. Chapman and the jealous Dr. Craven). While investigating, Nick notices that some French men seem to be following them, led by Philippe Roach. Meanwhile, Audrey Timmonds notices Nick, her ex, on the TV while blowing off steam from her sexist and perverted boss, the local TV news host. While doing that, the city is suddenly attacked by an unknown huge creature. To make matters worse, Nick soon finds out there'll soon be more then one.

So, how did this multi-million dollar film do both financially and critically? Financially: wonderful. Critically: terrible. Easily the most hated part of this film was the monster. Godzilla was changed from a creature they couldn't kill to a nuisance they couldn't get there hands on. They made him skinnier, faster and more reptile like. They also took away his nuclear breath, much to the displeasure of the G-Fans. It didn't help that they made his breath flammable to make up for it. He could also burrow now, too, and was asexual so it could make its own children. Most notable was that its movement and design, as well as its babies, were close to that of the T-Rex and raptors from Jurassic Park. The actors, while doing good, didn't have much to go with and played rather dull characters (did Audrey really think Nick would forgive her for stealing a top secret tape?). The film obviously made room for a sequel, but that never happened, although the tv series that followed won the angered fans (See Part 3).


Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999)

Monsters - Godzilla, Millennian, Orga

Lowdown - This film is an obvious response to the American remake and the fan outrage. It also marks the real start of the Millennium series, which would rarely be continuative and only connect to the 1954 film that started the franchise. The film also changes Godzilla's look to a more monstrous look with sharper back spines, bigger claws and teeth, more armor-like skin and a different color breath. New monster, Orga (shape shifting with Godzilla's cells from its real form, Millennian), has at times been questioned to look like the American Godzilla, another response.

The story here is that nearly into the new Century and Millennia, Japan views Godzilla as almost a force of nature as he's still returned off and on for over 40 years. Two separate groups track him for different purposes. Yuji Shinado and his daughter Io, along with news photographer Yuki Ichinose, run the Godzilla Prediction Network (GPN) and track him to warn when he'll appear next and to discover his secrets of how he's survived this long. Mitsuo Katagiri along with his assistant Shiro Miyaska (both being old college friends with Yuji) run the Crises Control Institute (CCI) which hopes to kill him. While GPN study his cells to learn how he heals, the CCI discover a meteors in the ocean; only they learn it's not a meteor at all.

Upon its release, it was praised among fans for it's sticking to the Godzilla style. However, it has since gone down in popularity due to the obvious flaws. The film's main cast only goes on that they're old friends from back in the day. No information is even hinted at why they're not friends anymore, what happened, how long ago, nothing. Orga, despite being a different monster, is rather stiff with its suit. This is also the last film to have an American theatrical release.


Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)

Monsters - Godzilla, Meganulon, Meganula, Megaguirus

Lowdown - Like the last one, this film isn't connected to any other film except the original. However, it would keep Godzilla's look and colored breath from the last. The first stage monster, Meganulon, is actually from a past Toho film, Rodan. Megaguirus, the new monster, is a dragonfly like queen who can absorb energy and uses her wings to make a high pitched destructive sound.

The story here is that Godzilla has appeared twice since his 1954 attack, once in the 60's and once in the late 90's. In the late 90s an officer named Kiriko Tsujimori witnessed Godzilla kill her military unit and has vowed revenge. Now, she leads the project weapon called the Dimension Tide which shoots a black hole from space like a cannon, with the help of comical inventor Hajime Kudo, hoping to use it to kill Godzilla. During a test of the weapon, a window in time/space opens through which a giant prehistoric dragonfly leaves an egg. A boy sneaking into the complex witnesses this and steals the egg. The boy dumps the egg in the city sewers, which then hatches several eggs which hatch a new species. Meanwhile, Godzilla has been spotted in the surrounding ocean, and the government plans to move.

This film is a mixed bag with reviewers, although most of them tend to drift towards the negative. Kiriko's character is too serious to be enjoyed in the light hearted times, and Kudo being comical tends to ruin him during the serious parts of the film. There's also only one battle between Megaguirus and Godzilla, and it's towards the end of the film, which is only like 10 minutes long. Complaints have also gone on about how Megaguirus' looks defy the basic insect structure.


Godzilla, Mothra & King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack (2001)

Monsters -Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Baragon

Lowdown - Once again, this film stands alone, and is only connected to the original and another film I'll get to later. However, this film alters the original, specifically how Godzilla was made and his origins. This film was originally gonna have Anguirus, Varan and Baragon, however, Toho didn't feel they where bankable and made Director Kaneko put in the more well known monsters Mothra and Ghidorah. This also marks Eisei Amamoto's last film (He was also in King Kong Escapes as the villain and All Monsters Attack as the Toy Maker) before his death.

The film starts off at a Naval military school where Admiral Taiza Tachibana is giving a lecture on Godzilla's attack in 1954 and mentions that there's been several other monster sightings over the world since, one even attacking New York in 1998 (a reference to the remake). His class ends though when a nuclear sub goes missing and a rescue team spots what looks like Godzilla's spines. Meanwhile, Taiza's daughter, Yuri Tachibana is doing her usual campy un-solved mystery show when she spots an old man named Hirotoshi Isayama. Later with her friend, she tracks him down to reveal that Godzilla's true origin is that he the incarnation of the victims of WWII caused by Japan and the only saving of Japan are three Guardian Monsters.

Many feel that this film is overrated for the praise it gets, but it still disserves some. Most of the suitmation is wonderful here, as Baragon and Mothra are amazing prop work. This also marks the only occasion where Mothra doesn't have her fairy helpers, although they're referenced when some female twins watch her with awe. Godzilla is a mixed bag here, at times he looks almost like he has a beer gut yet other times he looks just awesome. Some of the downfalls however are the changes to Godzilla and King Ghidorah's personality. Godzilla was turned from a victim to a creature that's truly evil incarnate. Ghidorah on the other hand has always been a villain until now, and the fans didn't care for his change.


Godzilla x Mechagodzilla (2002)

Monsters - Godzilla, Kiryu, Mothra (stock footage), Gaira (stock footage)

Lowdown - Again, this starts over from the beginning, yadda yadda yadda, you get it by now. It does however connect to other two past films, as it talks about the arrival of the Mothra larva from her solo film and Gaira from War of the Gargantuas back in the 1960s. This time around, they returned Godzilla back to the look he had for G2000 and GvM. And while you might wonder why Mechagodzilla isn't in the monster's list, this time they renamed him to Kiryu, and gave him a more unique history and weaponry.

The story for this film is of Akane Yashiro, who lost her unit to Godzilla's return in 1999 and has been seen by fellow soldiers as cursed. Four years later, she's risen in the ranks and is offered a chance to pilot a new machine: Kiryu, a robot constructed from the bones of the Godzilla from 1954 using its DNA to make an AI. The genius behind the machine is Professor Tokumitsu Yahara, with his younger daughter Sara along for the ride. Once Godzilla returns, the machine proves effective, however the use of the DNA from the past Godzilla to make an AI seems to have kept some memories from the past.

This film is easily one of the best, maybe THE best, in the Millennium series. This incarnation of Mechagodzilla offers a larger amount of weapons then the Heisei version, although still not as many as the Showa one, and offers some more unique ones. The actor counterparts were also pretty good, as Akane's character seeking more for redemption than vengeance fits better then the previous female military lead, although Tokumitsu constantly wanting a date with her kind of drags it down.


Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)

Monsters - Godzilla, Mothra (Larva), Mothra (Adult), Kiryu, Kamoebas

Lowdown - If you're thinking that right about now is where I state that this is only connected to the original 1954 flick...Wrong! That's right; this is a direct sequel to the last film, taking place right after it (the only one in the series). This also is a sequel of sorts to Mothra's stand alone film as it involves her and relatives of the Shobijin from it. Another non-Godzilla monster makes a cameo, Kamoebas from a past Toho film called Space Amoeba, where he and a few other alien possessed animals grow to monstrous heights.

This film starts a year after the first film with Doctor Shin'ichi Chujo along with his grandsons, Yoshito Chujo (a Mechanic on Kiryu that's still in repairs) and the youthful Shun Chujo, in a getaway in the mountains when they get a visit. The visitors are relatives to the Shobijin (which Shin'ichi had visited during the events of the 1961 film) who warn them against using Godzilla's bones to make Kiryu and that Mothra won't have it. Upon his return to work, Yoshito and his grandfather try to warn the government, but with it, he gets anger from the new lead pilot for Kiryu who longs to pilot it (as Akane Yoshiro is reassigned to America). Amongst all of this, Godzilla returns again and the race is on to both finish Kiryu and get Mothra to help.

This film, while being a little less favorable then its predecessor, is still one of the better films of the Series. Both Godzilla and Kiryu have just as good suitmation as the last film. Also Mothra's prop is nearly as a good as its GMKG counterpart, as it's wings are very impressive. Another plus to this film is that it plays very well, not only to the last film (and it to the original), but it connects well to the 1961 Mothra film with its returning characters. Also, this film features a rare in Godzilla films as instead of two or three different battles, this film only features one huge battle between Godzilla and changing foes (Mothra Adult, Kiryu, Mothra larva) which takes up most of the movie. Both this and the movie before it are highs in the series and the franchise in general. It also set up a possible sequel, which didn't happen.


Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

Monsters - Godzilla, Mothra, Anguirus, Gigan, Rodan, King Ceasar, Ebirah, Kamacuras, Kumonga, Manda, Minilla, Hedorah, Zilla, Monster X, Kiezer Ghidorah, Varan*, Baragon*, Gaira*, Gezora*, Titanosarus*, Megaguirus*, Mechagodzilla*, Godzilla Jr.*

Lowdown - First off, the * means its only stock footage in the credits and serves no purpose to the story. However, that's still a long list of monsters. And again, this starts from the original. And again, this film is meant to be an anniversary film and a retirement film. And like Destroy All Monsters, they decided to go out with a bang, as you can see from the list. The film also had a roll written for well known MMA fighter Don Frye, of whom the director was a fan of. This is the first and only Godzilla film to have an opening in America (it was opened at the Chinese theatre in Hollywood).

The story is that in the 1960's, the world is overrun with monsters and mutant humans exist and work for the Earth Defense Force (EDF). The Gotengo does battle with Godzilla in the South Pole and coming out victorious, freezing Godzilla in an icy prison (the most dangerous monster by EDFs Standards). 40 years later, the EDF finds a mummified monster named Gigan and they are told by the Shobijin that it came to destroy the world over 10,000 years ago before Mothra stopped it. It's then that several monsters around the world awaken and begin to wreak havoc on the cities. Just when it looks like all hope is lost, an alien race called the Xillians came to save them by taking away the monsters. But a few humans are skeptical, and they soon reveal that they weren't as honest as they claimed. A new leader amongst them takes over and it's decided that there's only one monster that can step up to them, and he's in the South Pole.

This film is an honest to god 50/50 as it is truly split down the middle as far as fans go. Some fans love this film as it's full of action, and filled with tons of the most loved monsters, intense action fighting amongst the humans and Don Frye doing fun one-liners. On the flip side, the monsters here are by far some of the weakest ever (even more so then Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: All Monsters attack and Son of Godzilla). It was joked that Zilla (a shortened name of the American remake monster) being killed off by Godzilla in 13 seconds would be fun to watch, but the problem is he does that with too many other monsters. Hedorah, who was one of Godzilla's most challenging and dangerous rivals, barely stood a chance. Also, Mothra and the Shobijin hardly play a role in the film. And, once again, Toho ripped a movie off, as several scenes are identical to the Matrix. It did however invent two new monsters, Monster X and the beast it changed into: Kiezer Ghidorah. Needless to say, this was a controversial way to go out.

So there you have it. Every Godzilla film ever made. There hasn't been one since, as Final Wars was meant to be a break as the latest series wasn't nearly as financially successful and has grown stale. The plan was to hold off for five to ten years and give it another fresh start. And they've been true as there hasn't been a film since, and it'll be 5 years this November since Final Wars. There's been a rumored Godzilla 3-D IMAX film made outside of Toho, but that's been in development hell. Keep and eye out though, I mean we finally got Rocky 6, Rambo 4 and Indiana Jones 4, so maybe we'll get it.

So, let's do one more recap for old time's sake.

This whole thing started in 1954 when Toho wanted to cash in on the success of giant monster films in the West and Director Honda wanted to warn of the horrors of war during the time when the US and USSR was threatening each other with more powerful weapons. That film was Gojira, which would go on to be a huge success. It was renamed Godzilla: King of the Monsters two years later when it was shown in America and since hasn't been nearly as loved as the original.

Then in 1955, the first sequel was made and the Showa Era started. It was dark and serious but slowly, film by film, grew more light hearted and youth oriented. Also, it had a growing cast of monsters as more radioactive animals and dinosaurs, guardian beasts and aliens came in. Finally, they flat out made Godzilla a superhero and coming to the rescue until it ended in 1975.

At the same time as this series went on, more and more monster films were made to bank on the success. The most successful would be Gamera, made by rival Japanese studio Deihei, and featured a giant turtle awakened by US and USSR fighting. Also at the same time, Godzilla would spawn off a cartoon show, appeared in several Zone Fighter episodes and in episodes of similar shows.

Then in 1984, they re-booted the series by forgetting everything that happened in the Showa era and started it with only the original 1954 film. This would start the Heisei era, which, despite a few funny moments and growing a little less dark, would stay serious from beginning to end. It would also feature the longest running character in the Godzilla franchise. This ended in 1995 with the second film ever to kill Godzilla.

The series was meant to be put on hold for a while, but in 1998, an America company remade the classic monster in a way that would anger fans to this day. This would eventully lead Toho to make a response film a year later that would start the Millennium series, which I just explained.

So there it is. Every film, every monster, the general feelings of fans towards them, everything you need to become a G-Fan. However, this is truly the tip of the iceberg. Some I'm sure would like to know the name of actors, actresses, directors, etc.

One of the main sites to learn about such things is Toho Kingdom. It not only has facts on Godzilla, but info on other films made by Toho. They don't just make monster flicks; they also make romance, comedy, drama and horror (they made the original J-Horror film The Ring and its sequels/prequels). There are also other sites you can find, simply Google and explore.

Well, this ends our journey. I'd like to thank everyone who's read my articles and enjoyed them. I'm proud to be a fan of this subject, and hope I added a few more. I don't care if your 5 or 75 years old, if you like this stuff, be open about it and enjoy it. I'm 23 and I am right now. Again, thank you, and keep a lookout for what I'll be doing for BthroughZ in the future, cause I've got plans, trust me.