GODZILLA
2000 (1999)Director: Takao Okawara
Columbia Tristar
GODZILLA
2000 (1999)I always felt that Dean Devlin should have been flogged for that 1998 travesty which should have more aptly been tagged JURASSIC PARK 3. But now, thank God we've got the REAL Godzilla back again (whew!).
This latest entry in the Big G series seems to ignore the last installment (1995's GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH), wherein Godzilla died. Here the new film begins as though it was still 1954 and the monster is alive and active, chewing up ships and smashing the city. It really ruins the sentimental ending of DESTOROYAH, but I suppose the main thing we're concerned with as fans is just to have fun enjoying Toho's original dinosaur back in all his radioactive glory. There's nothing too new about GODZILLA 2000...it has everything we expect and want back again, particularly after that American CGI lizard infuriated us a few years ago: Godzilla stomps Tokyo, team of scientists tries to understand Godzilla, little kid is fond of Godzilla, bad guy wants to destroy Godzilla, new creature arrives to challenge Godzilla.
The newest adversary this time winds up emulating from a giant UFO that resembles either a tremendous silver bicycle seat or a flying bead pan (take your pick or think up something of your own). The battle scenes are the highlight of the movie for me, and make the first three-quarters of this worth the trip down Memory Lane. The gray and gritty look of the fight reminds me of GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER. I am also fond of the business-like villain with the deep voice, trying to do what he feels is right yet remaining genuinely hateful throughout the story. He looks and acts a lot like Eric Braeden's character in ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES.
It's wonderful to see Godzilla portrayed by an actor in a suit again, and it's soothing to see the lovably cheap-looking sets and to hear the ridiculous dubbing, replete with traditionally dopey dialogue! Godzilla's fiery radioactive breath REALLY looks cool, too!
This DVD looks generally good, as we would expect from a new film, though there is some grain during darker scenes. The image is letterboxed at 2.35:1, yet it appears a little cramped at the top of the screen now and then. The audio is available either in 2 channel Dolby Surround or 5.1 Dolby Digital. You can also watch the film in French if that's how you get your kicks. There are also English and French subtitles.
An audio commentary is thankfully included, where we get to hear the writer-producer and two editors recall how they re-constructed this Japanese feature for restless American audiences. Although I have yet to see the original Japanese edition, I've learned that a lot of tinkering went into THIS version. Whether it's justifiable or not, I can't really complain about the finished product.
One extra feature on the new disc is some cool production footage with the Godzilla actor in his costume stomping around some miniature sets. What's bizarre about this is how absurd the creature appears while bouncing around at "normal" live action speed. It makes you appreciate the technique of slowing down Godzilla's movements for the final product. Although I craved more of this behind-the-scenes material, this enticing morsel only lasts a few minutes. Way to go, Columbia Tri-Star.
Since I'm commenting on the special features (or how the studio was skimping on them) this might be a good moment to add that this DVD was initially supposed to contain the "official" Japanese version with subtitles! Oh well.
We also get two trailers -- one for GODZILLA 2000, and one unnecessary ad for the equally unnecessary 1998 "GODZILLA" (you have no idea how it pains me to type those eight letters when referring to that rip-off).
GODZILLA 2000 turned out to be a box office failure in the long run. This is indeed unfortunate, as the lackluster reception might kill our chances of ever seeing future chapters from Godzilla's travels on our theater screens. We can only hope that this DVD does better business, assuring that Godzilla's home video niche doesn't suffer a similar fate.
If you don't "get" Godzilla or somehow enjoyed the 1998 "remake," you'll probably have no use for this disc. But if you're a true fan of the endearing cheesy GODZILLA that met King Kong, Mothra, Rodan and others...you shouldn't be disappointed. (Joe Lozowsky)