GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRUS (2000) ***
Scientists learn that Godzilla is attracted to Japan’s nuclear power plants, so they decide to covert the country to clean energy. When that doesn’t deter Godzilla, the scientists work on creating a portable black hole to get rid of the G-Man. Meanwhile, a kid finds an overgrown egg and tosses it into the sewer. It hatches and a swarm of giant dragonfly monsters are soon flying around Tokyo. The swarm land on the carcass of another monster and mutate it into a big ass bug called Megaguirus. And in case you don’t know what happens next, just read the title again.
All of the scenes involving the scientists trying to come up with a way to kill Godzilla are rather dull. And the stuff with the “G-Grabber” Godzilla SWAT team is kinda lame. Overall, the flick had about ten minutes too much of these bozos.
These quibbles are relatively minor as Godzilla vs. Megaguirus delivers on the monster mashing mayhem. There’s like a half hour stretch of non-stop monsters fighting and/or stomping through the city. And the extended duel between the two titular is one of the best in the entire Godzilla Millennium series.
The effects are fairly erratic. The Godzilla suit is really good and Megaguirus is pretty cool too. (He looks like a mash-up of the Baxter Stockman toy from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Fly from The Fly 2.) Sometimes you see the strings when he’s flying around, but that kinda adds to his charm. I do have to say that the CGI on the swarming insects was well done though. However, a lot of the model work is pretty bad in this movie; especially in the underwater scenes.
So overall, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus is quite entertaining once you get past the rough patch in the beginning. It’s not quite up to the standard set by Godzilla 2000, but it’s still badass. I can’t imagine anyone who’s a fan of the series passing this one up.
Best line: “You’re going to make Godzilla disappear into his own butthole!”
AKA: Godzilla X Megaguirus: The G Extermination Command. AKA: Godzilla vs. Megaguirus: The G Annihilation Strategy.
Tomorrow’s Horror Franchise Movie: Rest Stop.