Grew up watching Godzilla as a kid and I have 28 of the Godzilla out of the 33 that were made either on dvd or blu-ray. So I like to watch the classic and newer Godzilla's from time to time and will pick-up on dvd or blu-ray when they are available.

GODZILLA, MOTHRA, AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK I had a blast with Shûsuke Kaneko’s GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK. Released in 2001 as part of the Millennium series, it ignores all previous Godzilla flicks except for the original from ’54 and, humorously, the much-maligned American film from ’98. Godzilla reappears after nearly a half century to terrorize Japan. Additionally, never before seen creatures Baragon, Mothra, and King Ghodorah eventually show up. A tabloid television journalist soon discovers that the latter three beasts are ancient Guardian Monsters, meant to protect the land of Japan, though not necessarily the government or people. Can even the combined might of three Kaiju defeat the King of the Monsters, though? This film has a lot going for it to make it stand out from the pack. Kaneko gives it some stylish flourishes, making it slicker than many other franchise entries. Tonally, it also feels like a horror film in spots, giving the film a unique flavor. Godzilla is effectively malevolent, as well, with Baragon, Mothra, and, surprisingly, King Ghidorah portrayed as the heroes. The creature designs are some of the best of the series, with Mothra being a particular standout. The fight scenes are also some of the best the series has to offer. City stomping man-in-suit action is great (accented with decent GGI), with much of the destruction filtered through the human characters’ viewpoints, creating a sense of true peril that’s not always present in these films. Finally, the nonstop action propels the movie with plenty of monster sequences, which isn’t always a given. Some of the subtext is admittedly muddled with mystical mumbo jumbo applied to lend some heft to its messaging, but this minor misstep doesn’t really hinder the film’s huge entertainment factor. Shûsuke Kaneko’s GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK is one of the better Godzilla films. Fairly unique in a handful of facets, I appreciate the effort to differentiate itself from the pack after seeing so many of these films. As an entry in the Millennium series, it requires little to no previous knowledge of Godzilla films as it is mostly self-contained. Highly recommended. GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA As a kid, I devoured Godzilla movies. The ones I grew up on were produced in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and early ‘80s. Outside of the original genre-defining classic from 1954, I hadn’t watched one in some time. I was intimidated by the complex continuities and reboots. Recently, on a whim, I watched Masaaki Tezuka’s GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA from 2002. I decided I wouldn’t worry about continuity and that I just wanted to see a guy in a giant monster suit smash up a miniature city. I’m so glad I gave it a shot as I had a great time. This particular film ignores every previous entry in the series except for the original, acting as a direct sequel. Think David Gordon Green’s approach with last year’s HALLOWEEN follow up. It also references a few other Kaiju classics such as MOTHRA, but you don’t need to have seen any of those films to understand this one, as they succinctly explain things in a neat flashback montage. So, when a new Godzilla shows up forty-five years after the original attacks, and lays waste to a small city, the Japanese government realizes they’ll need to do something to protect themselves. Using the first Godzilla’s skeleton and DNA, they create a sort of cybernetic replica of the King of the Monsters. Wielding a supergun, and just being generally armed to the teeth, this Mechagodzilla is piloted by a soldier named Akane. Scapegoated after the disastrous initial encounter with the newly emerged Godzilla, she is eager to prove her mettle. She’s also romantically pursued by a goofy scientist named Tokumitsu who is a key figure in the Mechagodzilla program. Though things don’t go as planned in their first encounter, Akane and friends soon get another shot at Godzilla with the fate of Tokyo in the balance. Performances are fine, for this type of film, though I’m unfamiliar with all of the actors. Yumiko Shaku, who plays Akane, gives the film a human spark amidst the destruction. Really though, the true stars are the impressively detailed animatronic monster suits. Godzilla looks menacing, though not necessarily scary and Mechagodzilla’s armaments are cool. The miniature sets that get destroyed are a step up from the ones I was familiar with. Additionally, (only slightly dodgy) CGI is effectively used here and there for enhancement purposes, keeping the focus on practical effects. You’ll never forget that you’re watching guys in suits pummel each other in scaled down cities, but the sheer amount of detail impresses all the same. The tone, though serious, is not nearly as somber as the American reboot from a few years ago. It feels like the goal is to entertain and the filmmakers achieve that in spades. Keep an eye out for the cameo by baseball legend Hideki Matsui. GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA strips away extraneous continuity and plays well for those not as familiar with the franchise’s history. Featuring excellent practical effects and a brisk story, fun is the object here. Though not without some consequences (some soldiers get stomped on, etc), this film should be suitable for pretty much all ages. Highly recommended for lapsed Godzilla fans and those who enjoy breezy sci fi action.

These are some great Godzilla movies especially since they’ve went back & remastered them on Blu-ray. If your a fan of Godzilla then these are must haves especially for only $15. You can choose Japanese language with English subtitles or English language with English subtitles. Bestbuy actually has a really nice selection of these older Godzilla movies on Blu-ray that are double features each for only $15 a piece.

Great Godzilla collection. Cheesy, campy goodness. Much better than the newer, American Godzilla films. Mechagodzilla is one of the best Godzilla enemies (heroes?). Highly recommended to Kaiju/monster movie fans.

The back cover for the movies are awesome, this blu-ray is a most if you are looking into expanding your collection of godzilla films .