Godzilla vs. Mothra
From Wikizilla
Godzilla vs. Mothra, otherwise known as Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth and Gojira tai Mosura, is a 1992 film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Kazuki Omori. The score was composed by Akira Ifukube. Masahiro Kishimoto directed cinematography, and Koichi Kawakita directed special effects. It was produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka and Shogo Tomiyama. It is the 19th Godzilla film, appearing after Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah and before Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II. The running time is 1 hour 42 minutes.
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Plot
In the beginning of the world the dominant civilization tried to control the weather of the planet so the monster Battra (also known as "Black Mothra") was deployed by the Earth, a dark, more combative Mothra. After destroying the civilization, the Earth sent Mothra to stop Battra. Battra then went into hibernation so that he could destroy an asteroid that would strike earth in 10,000 years. But the monster is awakened early by a meteorite, which also had awoken the nuclear monster Godzilla. On a far off island a large egg is unearthed in a storm. A pair of Shobijin, "The Cosmos", warn the humans that the egg belongs to Mothra and that Mothra would attack them if they did not return it. But the humans do not listen, and bring the egg to the mainland to be exploited as an attraction for profit, as they did with The Cosmos. The egg hatches on route and the larvae Mothra fights Godzilla, who was emerging from the sea. Godzilla is interrupted by Battra, and they fight underwater. On the mainland, Mothra attempts to rescue The Cosmos. Surviving an attack from the military, Mothra spins a cocoon, emerging in her adult form as Godzilla emerges from an erupting volcano. Transforming to its adult form, Battra fights Mothra above the city. Battra is then nearly killed by Godzilla, but is rescued by Mothra, who re-energizes Battra with its life force. Mothra joins forces with Battra, and the two gigantic insects manage to defeat Godzilla, paralysing it and carrying it out to sea. However it would be a pyrrhic victory as Battra was severely injured during the fight with Godzilla and dies, its body sinking into the sea with Godzilla. Mothra uses her powers to secure Godzilla under the ocean. Mothra then leaves, flying into space to take Battra's place and destroy the asteroid heading for earth.
Commentary and Criticism
Although viewers appreciate some of the features of the film, such as the ethereal cinematography (in scenes such as when Mothra's larvae spins a cocoon), the unusual final battle scene set in an amusement park (with Battra using a Ferris Wheel as a weapon against Godzilla), and the typically beautiful score by Akira Ifukube, some critics charge that the film is burdened by a confluence of over-the-top themes and moments. For example, there is a blatant Indiana Jones influence in a beginning scene, when Takuya escapes from a crumbling ancient temple. Another example is the heavy environmentalist message, with a character musing in almost every scene about the destructiveness caused by human misdeeds.[1] [2] Although there has always been some element of this in Godzilla films, since Godzilla was created by nuclear tests and in ways recalls the devastation caused by atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, critics argue that the topic is handled here too heavy-handedly.
Another strange combination for the film is the tension between a child-friendly atmosphere and more adult themes. A young girl has a prominent role, and Mothra is implicitly cast as a guardian of children. (These ideas are further developed in the Rebirth of Mothra trilogy.) However, there is profanity (not typical for a Godzilla film), the broken relationship of a former couple is explored (with the two making bitter remarks to each other), and the violence caused by the monsters detracts from the child-like aura. It is a strange combination both liked and disliked by viewers.
Cast
- Tetsuya Bessho as Takuya Fujita
- Satomi Kobayashi as Masako Tezuka
- Takehiro Murata as Kenji Andoh
- Megumi Odaka as Miki Saegusa
- Saburo Shinoda as Professor Fukazawa
- Akiji Kobayashi as Yuzo Tsuchiashi
- Akira Takarada as Environmental Planning Board Chief Jyoji Minamino
- Makoto Otake as Marutomo Head Takeshi Tomokane
- Keiko Imamura as Cosmos twin #1
- Sayaka Osawa as Cosmos twin #2
- Kenpachiro Satsuma as Gojira
- 'Hurricane Ryu' Hariken as Batora
- Yoshiko Tanaka as Asuka Okouchi
- Kôichi Ueda as Marutomo Employee
