Shin Godzilla Review

Written by Stu Cooper

Hitting theaters for the first time in over a decade, Godzilla makes his theatrical return, and it's against his biggest enemy yet...POLITICS! That's right, the 29th installment in the ever changing Godzilla legacy revolves around a group of various politicians struggling to come up with a solution to their BIGGEST problem ever. (see what I did there?)

Shin Godzilla is the first TOHO produced Godzilla film since 2004's Godzilla Final Wars. American audiences would be treated to their own version in 2014's Godzilla, but it was not affiliated with TOHO or the universe established by their films. This film and creature are a separate beast entirely. Shin Godzilla started production when TOHO announced the film in December 2014, possibly as a response to the US film. Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi were set to direct, and throughout 2015 the film began to take shape. The film was released on July 29th, 2016 in Japan, though American viewers would have to wait until October. Saying that the Japanese release was a success would be a massive understatement. The film was not only the highest grossing live action Japanese film of 2016, but also the highest grossing Japanese produced Godzilla film in history. That is a massive achievement! Whether it's success will carry over to America is uncertain considering the subject matter is heavily tied to current Japanese culture and politics.

After leaving the theater, I was quite unsure what to think. The film is completely different than any Godzilla film before it. You have a 2 hour movie, where most of the scenes are dialogue. It's interesting and thought provoking, but different. If you are looking for a Pacific Rim thrill ride, you won't find that here. The film transcends the definition of a monster movie, and brings to light a new kind of monster, political chaos. While the film is most certainly about Godzilla and his path of destruction, the sub text and commentary is spelled out for the viewer. Every human character in the film is some type of bureaucrat, ambassador, or politically charged scientist. This makes for lots of conversations about legalities, political red tape, and most prominently the idea of mankind simply destroying itself from the inside.

While the politics in the film are mostly satire, there is some very serious commentary at hand. There are several moments in the film that may echo recent Japanese disasters like Fukishima, or the 2011 Earthquake. There are scenes of people buried under destruction and buildings collapsing, as well as massive doses of radiation flooding the nearby cities. These are very real problems that Japan has come face to face with recently. There is also a strong suggestion that the Japanese government fears the political ignorance of Americans, and wants out of our shadow. The Americans are often shown as trigger happy and self important. At one point in the film it's the American government that actually forces Japan to confront the possibility of another Hiroshima. That serves as one of the most intense and dramatic moments in the film, and Godzilla has little to do with it, he is merely a catalyst. Just one example of the many ways this movie transcends your basic sci-fi creature feature.

It's clear the story of the film is deep and rooted in the history of Japan. I could write pages on that very subject alone, but what about the rest of the film? The creature itself was certainly a sight to behold. At first Godzilla resembles something akin to a giant Turkey, but without going into spoiler territory I will say that the audience laughed every time this part of the creature was shown on screen. Thankfully the laughter is quickly turned to intimidation as Godzilla becomes increasingly threatening. This new version of Godzilla also shows off quite a few tricks, which adds a layer of unpredictability to the film. This ain't your daddy's Godzilla! At 118 meters tall (the biggest Godzilla ever), he is no laughing matter.

I remember when the first images of this version were released I was actually quite disappointed. I thought his eyes and hands looked a bit goofy, but I am happy to report he looks absolutely terrifying in the actual film. It's almost like an undead demon Godzilla by the end of the film. Something that you'd see in a Sam Raimi movie, and I loved every bit of it. Speaking of horror nods, I actually found some parts of the creature design to be similar to the John Carpenter's The Thing. As a life long Godzilla fan I found this version of the creature to be shocking and scary. That's exactly how the original 1954 Godzilla made audiences feel, so I take that as a good sign.

The CGI for Godzilla and the action sequences is remarkable. I legitimately could not tell what was CGI for most of the film, other than the infamous “Turkey” scene I mentioned earlier. The effects on the creature design are flawless and do a very good job of representing his size and scale. I'm not sure if any of the creature scenes were filmed via man in a suit, but the fact that I can't tell should speak volumes about the effects team.

In terms of screen performances, the shining stars were definitely Hiroki Hasegawa as Rando Yuguchi, the Deputy Chief Secretary; and U.S. Ambassador character Kayoko played by the lovely Satomi Ishihara. The two characters exist in a world of chaotic political characters that they bump into throughout the film. The pair is forced to work with these individuals to find a solution to the Godzilla threat. They do a good job of conveying the stress and drama that a situation like this would present. While being mostly serious, there are several moments of satirical comic relief as the characters begin to realize how clueless some of the higher ups are. You may say these actors are mediocre, but compared to previous acting performances in TOHO Godzilla films, they are award winning.

The sound design on the film was one of the most intriguing parts. The film actually used several sound effects and unused tracks from the 1954 Godzilla. Combined with the usage of the always wonderful TOHO Godzilla theme song, the soundtrack was spot on. There was also a few new tracks which fit in well with the Japanese Godzilla style. I can't say enough positive things about the sound, a true highlight in the film.

When it's all said and done, I think audiences may find Shin Godzilla to be a very puzzling film. If you appreciate satire and deeper meaning in films, you will be pleasantly surprised. If you are looking for an all out monster brawl, you'll be disappointed. I consider myself a die hard Godzilla fan and even I found myself yawning at points. But as soon as I would start to feel bored, the film would slap me with a huge dose of cinematic radiation, and I was back into it. I would say if you enjoy science fiction or Godzilla films, you should give it a chance. Who knows when you'll get another chance to see a TOHO Godzilla film on the big screen? Go Go Godzilla.

Star Trek: Renegades Review

Written by Stu Cooper

Ever since Star Trek: Enterprise left the air, trekkies have been dying to see another series hit the airwaves. From petitions to kickstarters, fans have been rallying behind various projects trying to get them made. Unfortunately Star Trek: Renegades hasn't made it to the airwaves yet, but it was released on YouTube, DVD, and Blu-ray. Fans of the original canon universe finally got another edition to the mythos, and it comes in the form of an epic 90 minute fan film. The film is written by Ethan H. Calk, Sky Douglas Conway, and Jack Trevino. The film was directed by Star Trek Voyager alumni Tim Russ who served as the promotional mascot for most of the film's appearances at various conventions. I actually first heard about the film when Russ and Walter Koenig appeared at Space City Con here in Houston to promote the film. The film was created by the makers of another famous fan-film Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, and serves as a sequel in some ways. Jack Trevino apparently came up with the idea for the series on the last day of Of Gods and Men. Thanks to campaigns on IndieGoGo and Kickstarter that have been going around since 2012, the project finally saw the light of day.

Star Trek: Renegades takes place ten years after the finale of Star Trek: Voyager which featured the crew of Voyager returning from their epic journey across the Delta Quadrant. The film picks up in the middle of a crisis revolving around a dilithium crystal shortage as the result of a mysterious alien race who is apparently folding space and time. The folding is causing entire planets to disappear, which is obviously bad for business. The Federation is unsure how to react to the situation, so Admiral Chekov (Star Trek: TOS) and Tuvok (Star Trek: Voyager) decide to get together with the ole Section 31 and put together a crew of misfit toys. The crew is ordered to investigate the madness and stop it before it reaches Earth. The crew consists of several sci-fi and Star Trek alum including Blade Runner's Sean Young, Alien Nation's Gary Graham, Terminator 2's Edward Furlong, Star Trek Voyager's Manu Intiraymi returning as The Lone Borg Icheb, Voyager's Robert Picardo as Dr. Zimmerman, and many more recognizable faces. Leading the crew is Captain Lexxa Singh (daughter of Khan) played by the stunning Adrienne Wilkinson, whom you may recognize from her run on Xena: Warrior Princess. The crew is essentially a sci-fi version of the expendables, which is consistent with the “Renegades” name. There are TONS of actors in this film, and if you blink you may miss some of them. The film also features several stunning females such as the crewman Ronara (Chasty Ballesteros), Andorian bombshell Shree (Courtney Peldon), and the Vulcan T'Leah (Larissa Gomes). It's certainly a crowded film and I'm not even mentioning the OTHER crew on the other ship that follows the Renegades around.

Despite the massive cast, the film manages to tell an incredibly riveting and tense story. The new aliens in the film seem to be a hybrid of Klingons and Hirogen, which makes for a rather intimidating race. The race is seeking revenge against the federation for inadvertently sabotaging their planet 300 years ago. The aliens use some kind of stone artifact to screw with time and space. The Renegades go on a mission to figure out exactly what is going on, and they are pursued by federation loyalists led by Captain Alvarez (Corin Nemec). Alvarez's crew strongly resembles the new look displayed in the JJ Abrams films, which leads me to believe that the film acknowledges both universes. There is also a lot of character ties to the other Paramount series, so there is a bit for everybody to enjoy. The film is about 90 minutes and you can tell the writers were trying to cram as much story as possible into that time-frame. Pretty much every scene is important to the plot, and if you take a break to get a snack or go to the bathroom, you may get a little lost.

The main focus is on Khan's daughter Lexxa, who is quite the bad-ass. She displays strong leadership qualities and some killer martial art skills. Not only is she beautiful and strong, but she is also poetic. The character often recites a beautiful little poem that streams throughout the film and serves as kind of a beacon for the story. Adrienne Wilkinson is perfectly cast in this role and I'm glad she is given a chance to shine. The writers could have easily focused on Chekov and Tuvok the entire time, but they take a chance and give a lot of screen time to the new characters. You can tell this film was intended as a pilot of sorts, as it has a real big series pilot feel to it.

The star of the film has to be the amazing special effects on display in the film. The film looked beautiful displayed on my HD television and I found myself absolutely speechless at how great the ship and space sequences looked. I dare say the ships looked better than they did in Voyager and Deep Space Nine (though there is a 15 year gap). There are a few awkward green screen shots throughout the film, but considering it's a fan film the quality is way beyond anything I could have expected. Whoever did the ship effects deserves a serious pat on the back. Another impressive effect that I noticed was the arm of the Borg Icheb. Since Voyager Icheb received a series of upgrades which include a shape shifting weapon arm. The arm effects are totally seamless and caused me to say “WHOA” out loud every time he used it. The make-up on most of the aliens is also top notch, especially the Andorian and the Cardassian characters. The only ones that were questionable were T'Leah the Vulcan whose eyebrows looked off in most scenes, and some of the villain aliens who suffered from bad wig fit.

Another aspect of the film that really shines is the soundtrack. The sound design is on par with most modern action films and greatly improves the tension of the film. There are pretty intense drum sequences during the action scenes that greatly elevate things to another level. It adds to the professionalism of the project and really makes you feel like you are watching a real full fledged Star Trek series.

Overall Star Trek: Renegades is a pleasant surprise that features TONS of tributes and fan service for all those loyal trekkies out there. Not only do you get to see a lot of familiar faces that you probably grew up loving, but you get to see a lot of young talent like Adrienne Wilkinson, Corin Nemac, and Chasty Bellastros who all knock it out of the park. The only downsides to the film would have to be the intense pacing, which can sometimes cause a lot of confusion, and the poor acting performance of Sean Young. I found myself cringing during all of Sean Young's scenes, but thankfully her character is not a focal point of the film.

If you can keep up with the story, the film serves as a terrific launching off point for more beautiful fan films. I was a little disappointed with how little Robert Picardo and Tim Russ showed up in the film, but Walter Koenig has quite a bit of screen-time and hasn't lost a step. If it got turned into a series, I imagine they would have returned to do a bit more. When the film ended, I found myself hoping that this isn't the last time we see this crew together. I certainly think this production has what it takes to support itself on something like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. If you'd like to check the project out, visit the official page startrekrenegades.com or simply click the YouTube links below which will take you to the actual production.

31 Days of Monster Mania: Day 2: Star Trek The Original Series: "Catspaw"

Written By Stu Cooper

It's time for Day 2 of Film Enigma's 31 Days of Monster Mania! Today's choice is something that I hold near and dear to my heart. Those who know me personally know I am a massive Star Trek fan. As a Star Trek fan I always wanted to see a Halloween special the likes of Roseanne or Home Improvement. While they never did any official holiday specials, there was an episode of the original series with a very strong Halloween theme. The episode was entitled "Catspaw" and involved all sorts of iconic Halloween traits.

The crew of the enterprise beamed down a landing crew consisting of Sulu, Scotty, and a red-shirt named Jackson to a seemingly uninhabited planet called Pyris VII. When the crew is unresponsive, the crew grows concerned when the red-shirt beams back up to the Enterprise and is apparently dying. Before he dies he warns the crew that they are now cursed! The crew responds the only way they know how, by beaming down to the planet to check things out. When Kirk, Spock, and Bones beam down to the planet they are immediately confronted with haunting imagery starting with screaming ghost like creatures. The screaming ghosts warn the crew members, but Spock is not alarmed because when he scans them, he realizes they are not real. Soon after this, Kirk notices a black cat that is wondering around the planet and the planet is covered in fog, creating a very familiar horror like environment. The ghostly environment only gets creepier as the crew stumble upon a castle! The castle is obscured by fog and looks like something straight out of Dracula.

The crew follows the black cat into the castle and encounters a wizard like man that looks like something straight out of Flash Gordon. The wizard begins talking to the black cat as if it understands, and the crew is quite confused. The crew also learns that the Wizard appears to have control over Sulu and Scotty and has put them into a zombie like state. The zombie crew members appear to be under the wizards command. So now not only do you have ghosts, a foggy castle, a black cat, but also zombie crew members! After Kirk, Spock, and Bones continue to investigate they realize that the wizard Korob is some type of alien that can control imagery and create illusions. To make this episode even more scooby doo-ish, the Wizard Korob uses a magic wand to do this.

After being held hostage by Korob, the crew witness the black cat turn into a human looking woman named Sylvia. Sylvia reveals herself to be in charge of the Wizard, and tells the crew that they serve a higher purpose, and are merely creating images that they've read about in human culture. Kirk and Bones make references to "Trick or Treat" which puzzles the Vulcan Spock. Kirk challenges Sylvia's powers and she demonstrates her magical powers by turning the enterprise into a toy, and threatens to burn the toy, which would of course kill the entire crew. After talking Sylvia down, Kirk is able to reason with Sylvia even if only for a brief moment. Sylvia then takes control of Bones, and adds him to her zombie army. Now it's up to Kirk and Spock to figure out how to stop Sylvia, and save their zombified friends.

After being held captive in a dungeon, Kirk and Spock are able to talk their way back into the good graces of Sylvia and the Wizard Korob. Kirk uses his powers of seduction to show Sylvia what it is like to experience a man's touch. We then learn that Sylvia is not humanoid, and actually has no understanding of sensations, sexuality, or power. Kirk uses his sexuality to show her a sample of what sexy sensations feel like, and of course Sylvia falls for Kirk. Sylvia tempts Kirk by showing him that she can transform into any kind of woman. Kirk appears to be interested in this but of course it's all a trick! Kirk is able to trick Sylvia and figure out that the magic wand is the source of her power. After taking her source of power, Sylvia turns into the cat, except this time, it's a giant cat! The cat goes on a rampage, and the Wizard Korob decides to stop Sylvia, sacrificing himself in order for the crew of the enterprise to get away. After a very goofy chase with a giant cat, the crew is able to escape and get back to the ship. Soon after this, the crew finds out that Korob and Sylvia actually aren't even powerful beings, they are merely tiny prawn like creatures. That's right, space prawn trick the crew into entering an imaginary haunted house. The crew would study these prawn, but unfortunately without their power, the prawn die, and the enterprise pretty much forgets about them and flies off into the great beyond.

"Catspaw" is known for being one of the most ridiculous Star Trek episodes and rightfully so. From the first scene the episode is just absolute insanity and comes off like a "Star Trek Meets Scooby Doo" special, which is great for the Halloween season, but in terms of good Star Trek, you could certainly do a lot better. The episode works as a goofy Halloween Special but the effects are pretty awful, and when you find out the aliens are basically prawns who are apparently huge Edgar Allen Poe fans, you can't help but laugh. The chase with the giant cat is also one of the more ridiculous scenes in Star Trek history. So if you're looking for a really hammy Halloween feeling episode of Star Trek, this is a good choice. Don't expect to be scared, but expect to get some serious Halloween Scooby Doo vibes. Unfortunately no crew members sneak off to indulge in scooby snacks, but the ga-ga-ga-ghost scares are riddled throughout this one. If you're looking for a Star Trek episode to give you the October Halloween feel, this is the one for you.

Checkout the full episode here:

Star Trek-Catspaw by Supercylon

Edge of Tomorrow Review

Written by Stu Cooper

Edge of Tomorrow was recently released into theaters. The film starred Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, and Bill Paxton. The story followed a reluctant soldier by the name of Bill Cage. Cage is forced into battle by a superior and begins to experience a time loop. Upon first glance the plot-line is very similar to films like Groundhog Day. You have a scrooge like setup where the character is an asshole, they experience a change of heart after seeing how sad life can be, and they change their ways. This film took that approach but added a lot of curve balls. A lot of death and a lot of humor, a combination that is hard to pull off.

Cage begins to experience the same day over and over again. To add a layer of darkness, that day happens to be the future equivalent to D-Day (World War II). Some might say this was done on purpose considering the film's release coincides with the anniversary of D-Day. As most people know, D-Day was an infamous day in history because of the amount of death and slaughter that took place. In “Edge of Tomorrow” this day comes when an alien race has begun to take over the world and the only thing stopping them from taking over Europe is an army of super soldiers. Cruise is assigned active duty against his will and serves with the other soldiers. At this point Cage is introduced to Drill Sergeant Ferrell, played by Bill Paxton. Paxton does great as the Sergeant and since the character is a proud Kentucky boy, Paxton really lays the accent on thick. It makes for some very funny scenes. Later Cage tries to explain his situation to Ferrell but it proves futile and that begins Cage's journey to alter his destiny.

The soldiers wear mechanical suits of armor that are actually quite sleek and cool looking. The suits boast all sorts of fire power ranging from machine guns to rocket launchers. It's like something out of the G.I. Joe cartoon. Unfortunately these weapons aren't enough to stop the incoming invaders, and Cage's platoon does not fair too well. Cage tries to find a solution to the war. On his journey he meets a soldier who has a legendary following, her name is Rita tho on the streets she earns the nickname Full Metal Bitch. Rita killed over 60 of the aliens in a previous battle, so she became a legend of sorts amongst the soldiers. Rita actually rocks a gigantic looking final fantasy sword.

The villains in the film are weird biomechanical aliens called Mimics. These creatures are hard to explain because they are basically mechanical blobs with scary faces. I was not into the creature design at all. It feels like one of those alien villains from the live action Transformers films. One interesting detail is that these creatures use time travel as a form of weaponry, which adds a different layer to their race. Unfortunately the race themselves aren't explored much in the film.

The final fantasy sword that Rita uses isn't the only thing in the film that feels influenced by video games. In fact, most of the film feels like a video game experience. There's the idea of re-spawning (dying and coming back), which is not something you can typically do in movies. Then you have the alien invasion, the giant gun battles, the bad-ass female with a giant sword...it's all very artistic and familiar to video game fans. I think that adds a special layer to this film. I was actually pleasantly surprised with the film and all the unique elements it had. I really enjoyed Cruise's previous sci-fi venture “Oblivion” but I would definitely say “Edge of Tomorrow” is superior. The only thing the film lacked was a memorable soundtrack and perhaps a strong villain presence. The song used in the trailer was far better than any of the drone like songs used in the film. The song in the credits is also quite random and gave me a bad “Men In Black 3” vibe.

Overall I would say I was quite impressed with “Edge of Tomorrow”. Cruise's acting was spot on and for once he wasn't the perfect soldier. Cruise's character in the film was flawed and humorous. Emily Blunt and Bill Paxton both added some enjoyment to the film and I liked the Starship Troopers vibe. If you like science fiction and you enjoy Tom Cruise's acting, this movie would be worth a watch. I might actually purchase this one on bluray. If you want to checkout the original story this film was based on, checkout the graphic novel “All You Need is Kill”. It's a bit different but equally interesting.

Top 5 Godzilla Villains - Number 1

Written by Stu Cooper

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about the release of "GODZILLA" this past week. I have already seen the film and I will be posting my full review later this weekend. To celebrate the release I've been ranking the Top 5 Godzilla villains of all-time. It's been a fun week and I've enjoyed researching these insane creatures. I knew from the start who my number one spot would go to. It won't be a shocker to most Godzilla fans. This monster is considered by most to be Godzilla's true rival. The monster I consider the number one Godzilla villain of all-time is...GHIDORAH!

Ghidorah, sometimes referred to as Ghidrah, is a very iconic monster in the world of TOHO and Kaijus. The creature itself is based on the famous mythological figure, the three headed hydra. The creature has three heads, two tails, and no arms. What it lacks in arm strength it makes up for in fire power. Each head can fire an intense lightning like blast. Ghidorah made it's debut in the 1964 film "Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster" which also served as the fifth Godzilla film. This film actually marked the first occasion in the Godzilla series in which Godzilla was the hero and not the villain. Ghidorah comes to earth and causes destruction, only to be defeated by Godzilla,Rodan AND Mothra. One funny thing about Ghidorah is that he rarely gets a fair fight. It's often three on one or two on one. In the "Destroy All Monsters" film Ghidorah gets beaten to death by nearly every TOHO creation at once. The thing is, he always comes back. Nothing can keep this monster down.

As far as Ghidorah's story, there isn't much history. All we really know is that the creature is from space and is often under the influence or control of some alien race. My personal favorite appearance of Ghidorah is in "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero" otherwise known as "Invasion of the Astro Monster". In that film Ghidorah is quite powerful and is controlled by a pretty entertaining group of aliens. The aliens actually trick the humans quite easily and are free to use Godzilla as they please. It's a very goofy plot but makes for a fun film. That film was always featured on TNT's "Monstervision" with Joe Bob Briggs. But that show is another article for another day.

In the later incarnations of the Godzilla franchise we again see Ghidorah become a main nemesis. In the film "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" we actually see Ghidorah get a "Mecha" upgrade and become even more badass and dangerous. That film is considered a favorite among many hardcore Godzilla fans because of it's crazy story, intense action, and cool monsters. I highly recommend checking that film out if you're looking to experience Godzilla at it's best. Ghidorah appeared in another film called "All Out Monsters Attack" and that one is also quite intense and cinematic. Ghidorah is portrayed as some type of God and is actually a protagonist! It's an odd departure. Ghidorah's final Godzilla film appearance would be in the appropriately titled "Final Wars". Planet X once again attempts to takeover the earth, except this time they use every Godzilla villain at once. The final monster is Ghidorah, who transforms into a creature called "Monster X". They sure do love their X's. I wish they'd take some of mine into outer space!

You really can't go wrong with any of the Ghidorah appearances. Ghidorah is also a friend of the number 5 entry in the countdown, Gigan. The two of them teamed up in "Godzilla vs. Gigan". Ghidorah also appeared in the "Zone Fighter" tv show. The Rebirth of Mothra films also feature many references to Ghidorah, and even two incarnations of the creature. Ghidorah is also often a main villain in several Godzilla video games, namely the NES and SNES games. Maintaining the idea that Ghidorah is Godzilla's main rival. It's safe to say he is one of the more popular TOHO villains.

The decision to rank Ghidorah at number one was due to his power, relentless pursuit of Godzilla, and overall intimidation factor. This creature is considered a frightening figure in mythology for a reason! The three headed hydra has been scaring human beings for generations, so it's naturally going to be a competitor in the monster arena. If we are lucky we might see a creature of this magnitude in future Godzilla films.

It's been a fun countdown and I think we've only really touched the tip of the Godzilla universe. I encourage you all to explore these films and the mythos behind them. Some of them are campy, some of them are symbolic, and some of them are the 1998 garbage pile starring Matthew Broderick. I will return with my full review of the 2014 Godzilla!

Top 5 Godzilla Villains - Number 2

Written By Stu Cooper

We are getting down to the nitty gritty! With only two entries left, I have a lot to consider. Thanks to TOHO, fans have a vast array of monsters to choose from. Godzilla has produced so many sequels and spin-off's that I could do a top 10 countdown and still not scratch the surface. Like I mentioned earlier in the countdown, my choices are being made based on the overall strength, creative look, and overall impact the creature had on the franchise. I remember when I was about 7 or 8 years old I went to a friend's house and he had several old Godzilla films I had not seen. When I came over one day he was actually watching one that featured TWO Godzilla monsters. I thought immediately how is this possible?! I saw them fighting and everything. I didn't get an explanation at that moment and was actually left wondering what the hell I saw for several years. It was not until I was around 10 that I had access to the internet and found out about Mechagodzilla. I tracked down a copy of the film and there it was. What I had witnessed was Godzilla fighting his robotic equal! So without spending too much time on my childhood, let's dive into the number two entry in the Godzilla Villain Countdown...MECHAGODZILLA!

MechaGodzilla made his film debut in "Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla" in 1974. At this point the Godzilla franchise was a well oiled machine and had produced films almost on a yearly basis. The films unfortunately had diminished in quality progressively throughout the years, and had turned Godzilla into a cartoon of sorts. But thanks to this film, Godzilla would be taken seriously once again when he would meet a foe that truly was his equal...MechaGodzilla. MechaGodzilla is actually introduced as a clone Godzilla of sorts.

In "Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla" we see Godzilla destroying the city, going on a rampage, despite the fact that he is not a villain at this point. I imagine this puzzled first time viewers of the film as it did the 8 year old me. After Bizarro Godzilla destroys a city he has a fight with his then partner Anguirus, and actually brutally beats him. No comedy to it. I'm sure that was a shocker to the fans considering the light hearted nature of the last couple entries. During this fight a piece of Godzilla's skin is chipped off and it's revealed that there is metal underneath. Well later we soon find out that this Godzilla is a fake, and the real Godzilla shows up. The two beasts battle until the Bizarro Godzilla sheds it's green skin and reveals itself to be MECHA-GODZILLA! The big reveal is a very cool moment. You really get that big fight feel and you know Godzilla will have his hands full. A huge fight ensues and we get to see MechaGodzilla show off all sorts of weaponry. Lasers out of the chest, lasers out of the eyes, rockets out of the fingers, rockets out of the toes, rockets out of the knees, a forcefield, spinning head, and the list goes on. This guy is just loaded to the brim with artillery. Of course eventually Godzilla conquers him and he meets his demise, but it is short lived. MechaGodzilla would return in 1978's "Terror of MechaGodzilla". In both films MechaGodzilla is controlled by ape like aliens bent on world domination, otherwise known as a Tuesday in TOHO Tokyo. In the later films throughout the 80's,90's, and 2000's MechaGodzilla is controlled by the military.

So let's lay out all the different versions of this mechanical beast. There was the original MechaGodzilla 1 which was featured in Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla and Terror of MechaGodzilla. This one was controlled by aliens and used for evil. Soon after that Godzilla took a long absence. MechaGodzilla would be back in "Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla 2". In that one MechaGodzilla is actually reverse engineered from parts left over from Mecha King Ghidorah. Then in the 2000's there is a MechaGodzilla referred to as "Kiryu". This one was created using the bones of the original Godzilla. The government had some pretty bizarre ideas at this point. This version was featured in another "Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla" film and a film called "Tokyo SOS".

At this point we are looking at 5 appearances and 3 different forms! That's some star power! After the countless battles with Godzilla, the consistent upgrades, and never say die nature of this monster, I have no doubts that MechaGodzilla deserves the number two spot in this countdown. MechaGodzilla is everything a nemesis should be. Just like Godzilla, he never stays down.

Top 5 Godzilla Villains - Number 3

Written by Stu Cooper

We are in the midst of the most villainous countdown in monster history. Today we discuss the number 3 entry in the Top 5 Godzilla Villains countdown. Today's entry is actually the least villainous monster in the countdown, but I still consider this monster a villain. This creature originally started as a nemesis and eventually became an ally, much like Rodan or Anguirus. So clean out your linens and turn off your porch lights, for the number 3 entry I chose...MOTHRA!

Starring in a whopping 13 monster movies, Mothra is staple in the sci-fi monster community. Mothra made her debut in 1961 in the film "Mothra" (modeled after a serialized story written in Japan) in which she was a giant moth like monster that was worshipped on an island as a deity. After making her debut in a solo film, Mothra became quite recognizable and people we're interested. This led to the Godzilla vs. Mothra film which is considered by many to be one of the best Godzilla films. The story in that film revolves around Mothra laying an egg which humans try to take, then Godzilla shows up and battles Mothra. Mothra fails to defeat Godzilla but her two children are born and they battle Godzilla in larva form. It's an incredibly entertaining film and shows off what an interesting monster Mothra is. It also introduces you to the now famous Mothra twins. The Mothra twins are two tiny women who have some kind of psychic link with Mothra. They often sing to Mothra in order to wake her up or give her a command. It's very odd.

After the original Godzilla vs. Mothra, Mothra would go on to be in almost every other Godzilla film. Usually Mothra would show up to help Godzilla but there are a few occasions where Mothra remains neutral. She would go on to appear in several awesome Godzilla flicks including another film devoted to just Her vs. Godzilla, which is also another excellent film. If you're a fan of Mothra then there are plenty of opportunities to see her in battle. She was so popular in Japan that TOHO actually gave her a series of her own called "Rebirth of Mothra". Unfortunately I have not seen that trilogy because they always looked a bit too weird to me, but I'm sure I will give them a chance eventually. I know part 3 in the series features Ghidorah, so it can't be that bad.

Mothra would also appear in several video games including the original NES game, Gameboy game, both SNES and Famicom games, all of the monster battle games, and the list goes on. It's pretty safe to say Mothra ranks among the most successful and popular Godzilla creations. I know technically Mothra is not a villain, but she provided some of the best fights against Godzilla and is one of the few monsters to put Godzilla in his place. Technically BATTRA would be the evil Mothra but with such a small role in only one film, I couldn't really consider Battra to be one of the best. Even tho she is essentially just a giant butterfly/moth, Mothra sports some pretty dangerous moves including the ability to cocoon Godzilla, use some type of pixie dust, wing attacks, and she has no issues picking up Godzilla by the tail and dragging him around. We may not have seen the last of Mothra. It's rumored that the new film features some kind of Mothra related Easter Egg, tho I'm told the flying monster in the trailer has nothing to do with it sadly. I guess time will tell. We may hear those goofy little women sing again someday.