Those with knowledge of the Godzilla series will gasp at this ranking, so before you forever lose trust in the Glog, please let me explain how wonderful All Monsters Attack actually is. For many Godzilla rankings, AMA ranks near the bottom of the list, if not thee bottom, due to its childish plot and heavy use of stock footage (The film is almost a compilation of Godzilla battles from previous movies, with only 1 or 2 truly new Godzilla scenes within). I've ranked it so high because this is my most beloved Godzilla movie. As a child, it may very well have been the first Godzilla movie I ever saw, and definitely within the top three, and because it targets a younger audience so heavily, it hooked me to Godzilla forever. It literally is the perfect Godzilla movie to introduce a youngster too. It has such a nostalgic feel to it that I can watch it over and over and never get tired of it. Everything is so memorable about this film. It takes me back to another age of my life and not many things can do that nowadays, and I will forever cherish Godzilla's Revenge because of that simple fact.
The film introduces a young boy protagonist, Ichiro, (seen in the above picture) who deals with some neighborhood bullies on his way to and from school. The main bullies name is Gabara. Ichiro is sort of an outcast and his parents are always working, so when he does get home, he is watched by his neighbor Shinpei, who designs toys and lets Ichiro test all his new creations. It is seemingly an ideal place for a child to grow up, but Ichiro doesn't understand why his parents must be away so much. Ichiro has a dream device with antennas that he uses to signal monster island with before he sleeps, allowing him to dream of the island where all his monster heroes reside. All the monster sequences in this movie are dreams of Ichiro's. On the island, he watches Godzilla fight some Kamacuras (stock footage from Son of Godzilla), before being chased through the jungle by one of the huge praying mantises. Ichiro falls in a deep hole and escapes. Struggling to get out, a rope is tossed to him and he is pulled to the surface by a friendly face: Minilla, the Son of Godzilla, who is the same size as Ichiro. Together, they find out about each others bully problems, as Minilla explains a large monster picks on him on the island, calling him Gabara, just like Ichiro's real life bully. Shinpei awakens Ichiro though, and serves him some delectable looking noodles and beef for dinner. It makes my mouth water. Shinpei is warned by investigators to keep an eye out for two bank robbers rumored to be hiding out in the area, which features many abandoned industrial buildings that the kids like to play in. Ichiro goes playing in one building and finds a liscense that happens the be one of the robber's, who are hiding from Ichiro in the same building. They go after Ichiro to get the license back. Ichiro goes back to sleep at home and meets up with Minilla again. The duo watch as Godzilla beats up Ebirah (more stock footage) a giant condor, and Kumonga the giant spider, before the monster Gabara confronts Minilla. Ichiro coaches Minilla on as the little monster shape shifts to a larger size to fight the beast. Minilla is no match though and Gabara eventually loses interest. Godzilla then fights some fighter jets before teaching Minilla how to use his atomic ray beam, which the little can only shoot as innocent blue bubbles, much to Ichiro's amusement. Godzilla stomps on Minilla's tail and the son of Godzilla finally releases his ray beam in full.
Ichiro is suddenly awakened by the robbers, who steal him from his house as Shinpei is gone. They also steal Shinpei's car, which is for sale. Ichiro prepares a booby trap for the robbers, while explaining to one of them about his inspiration Minilla on Monster Island. He falls asleep and dreams of Minilla trying to valiantly fight off Gabara, who has electrical powers now. Ichiro helps to get Minilla to use his ray beam. Godzilla comes to watch the fray. Minilla jumps off a cliff onto a teeter totter log, launching Gabara into the air. The monster appears stunned before it attacks Godzilla who is busy congratulating his son. Godzilla then commences kicking Gabara's ass himself. The robber's awaken Ichiro, who attempts to escape, using the lessons he learned on monster island from Minilla as his inspiration, he eludes the robber's attempts to apprehend him in similar fashion to a "Home Alone" movie, namely a fire extinguisher. Shinpei, who is looking for his stolen car, finds it and a money bag inside and phones the police as the robber's chase Ichiro through the abandoned building. Once they come back outside, the police arrest them and save Ichiro. With his newfound courage, Ichiro is able to confront his Gabara bully soon after, fighting him off before delivering the entire Godzilla series best dialog line ever, "All bullies are alike, ya can't take it!" Gabara and his bullies seem to appreciate Ichiro now, especially after Ichiro knocks a man painting a billboard off his ladder, spilling paint over his face. Ichiro's father intervenes and apologizes, and the gang all walk off to school together as friends.
Some of you may be wondering why this movie has been titled Godzilla's Revenge, and rightfully so, because Godzilla doesn't avenge anything in this movie. I think this was just the cheap American title for the film. Of the several Godzilla movies geared towards children, this is the ultimate. It doesn't get any better than this. Looking beyond the cheap stock footage use and emphasis towards children, I think everyone can appreciate the spirit and heartwarming nature of this Godzilla movie, because it is the best at exhibiting these qualities and should be celebrated instead of laughed off and criticized. We all have a little Ichiro in us, and we can all learn something from a movie like this.
No comments:
Post a Comment