Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla (ゴジラ対メカゴジラ, Gojira tai MekaGojira^?), originally known in the United States as Godzilla vs. the Bionic Monster and subsequently Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster, is a 1974 tokusatsu kaiju film. This was the 14th of the Toho studio's Godzilla series, it was directed by Jun Fukuda with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano and the original score composed by Masaru Sato.

Aside from Godzilla, Anguirus returns in this film and makes his final appearance until 2004's Godzilla: Final Wars. This film is notable for introducing Godzilla's robotic rival Mechagodzilla (who would return in four more Godzilla films), as well as King Caesar, he also was in Godzilla: Final Wars.

Plot

According to an Okinawa legend, when a black mountain appears in the skies above the clouds, a monster will arrive and attempt to destroy the world. However, if this divination comes true, a red moon will set, two suns will arise (one being an optical illusion rising from the west), and two monsters will fight off evil to rescue the world. In a cave near the city, an engineer and an archaeologist uncover a statue of a strange lion-god creature, known as King Caesar. He is believed to be one of the monsters to fight for humankind in the prophecy. Later, a black mountain does appear in the sky. Godzilla then rises from a dormant volcano and starts on a rampage. Many people, however, do not believe Godzilla will be the monster to destroy Earth. That reflection is reinforced when Godzilla attacks Anguirus and nearly kills him. In a surprising turn of events, another Godzilla sets forth, only to discover that the rampant Godzilla is an impostor. Later revealed as MechaGodzilla, a robot of titanic proportions that was designed and created by ape-like aliens to destroy the original Godzilla. After Godzilla is beaten green and blue, he comes back, super charged with electricity, gathered from a lightning storm on Monster Island. With the help of the newly summoned King Caesar, Godzilla destroys MechaGodzilla and returns back to the sea.

Cult Status

The movie has become popular among fans in recent years for its campy music, colorful special effects and entertaining monster fights. The film's robust themes and fairly complex plot stand out against a time when the Godzilla franchise was being fueled by increasingly lower production values.

Outside of the circle, however, public reception is luke-warm at best and the movie garners only 5.4 stars (out of a possible ten) at IMDb.

Box Office

The film sold approximately 1,330,000 tickets in Japan - modest business, but an improvement of about 350,000 over the previous Godzilla film, Godzilla vs. Megalon.

U.S. Version

In 1977, Cinema Shares released the film originally in North America under the title Godzilla vs. the Bionic Monster. But due to the threat of a lawsuit against Cinema Shares from Universal Studios on account of supposedly deriving the title from The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, the movie was retitled Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster. But both variations of the American Poster were called the films original title. But the second variation later got the Cosmic Monster fix.

For the theatrical release, the film was kept with its original Hong Kong dubbing, and scenes were trimmed to receive a G-rating from the MPAA, mostly from the aliens' fistfights. The opening credits were altered as well. In 1988, New World Video released the film along with Godzilla 1985, Godzilla vs. Gigan, Godzilla vs. Megalon, and Children of the Corn. The print of the film that was shown in America would later be released on VHS, twice.

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