The 70-year history of Godzilla on the big screen is broken into distinct eras with their own style and tone, but the more recent Millennium Era boasts a truly unique blend of classic Godzilla camp and high-stakes monster action. The Millennium Era actually kicked off quicker than expected, as the failure of Tristar’s American Godzilla opened the window for Toho several years early. The series now known as Godzilla’s Millennium Era was supposed to begin in 2005, after Tristar had enough time to release a planned trilogy of movies centered on the creature jokingly referred to as Zilla.

The Millennium Era is unique in that it sort of represents a blend of the two past segments of Godzilla’s history. While much of the Showa Era (especially its latter stages) was focused on a heroic, anthropomorphic Godzilla, the Heisei Era saw Godzilla return to his villainous, destructive roots for several movies, and carried a much darker, more serious tone. The Millennium Era mixed elements from both iterations of Godzilla in a series of movies that was frankly hit-and-miss as far as both quality and rewatchability are concerned.

6

Godzilla Vs Megagurius (2000)

Black Hole Mayhem With An Underwhelming Antagonist

After returning to protect Earth from an alien threat in Godzilla 2000: Millennium, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus reset Godzilla’s timeline so that it only recognized the events of the 1954 original Godzilla. Set in the year 2001, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus saw Japan’s defense forces develop an experimental weapon known as the Dimension Tide which literally fired miniature black holes. Their thought process was that should Godzilla return to wreak havoc again, he could be sent away from modern-day Japan via a wormhole. Unfortunately, a prehistoric dragonfly makes its way through a wormhole, depositing an egg in the present day.

The hatchlings, known as Meganulon, are able to feed off Godzilla’s nuclear energy, and after a convoluted series of events, a mᴀssive queen is hatched known as Megaguirus. Godzilla battles the insect kaiju and kills it, and afterward seemingly vanishes in one of the black holes. Megaguirus isn’t the most entertaining of villains and really doesn’t seem like too much of a threat to Big G, although there are definitely some attempts at creativity in the movie. It isn’t well-acted, the story isn’t particularly strong, and ultimately this is a forgettable entry in Godzilla’s history.

5

Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

Godzilla’s Greatest Hits In Movie Form

When it comes to sheer entertainment value, it’s difficult not to give props to the team behind Godzilla: Final Wars. It is positively ridiculous in story, acting, action, and soundtrack, but all of that combines into a really fun movie for those willing to turn their brains off. In a callback to one of Godzilla’s most oft-used classic storylines, the monsters of Earth fall under alien mind control, and it’s up to Godzilla to put them all down. The Millennium Era designs for Godzilla’s classic foes and allies are interesting, as is the final boss, Monster X/Keizer Ghidorah.

While it’s essentially a love letter to all of Toho’s history, it’s disappointing to see Godzilla one-hit some of the most beloved and fearsome allies and enemies of his history. The movie drags at certain points, and its two-hour runtime definitely could have been pared down. It’s also almost too cheesy at times; at one point, a man earnestly prepares to defend himself from Godzilla with a katana, and poor Ebirah isn’t even killed by Godzilla, he’s killed by mutant human beings with laser guns. The overall idea was entertaining, but the execution is simply lacking in too many ways.

4

Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999)

The New Godzilla Is Revealed

Godzilla returned with a brand-new, sharp-edged design in Godzilla 2000: Millennium, which unfortunately followed the traditional Godzilla formula so closely that the end result was pretty dull. The jump in effects from the Heisei Era to the Millennium Era is noticeable, and there are some attractive elements to the film, but ultimately it’s underwhelming in story and action. As has been seen too many times before, Godzilla 2000: Millennium features an invading alien force that ultimately yields a giant monster for Godzilla to battle.

At least the monster, Orga, is difficult to beat and seems as though it could be a legitimate threat to Godzilla based on the fact that it was generated using Godzilla’s mutated DNA. It was difficult to damage thanks to possessing Godzilla’s regenerative abilities, but on the flip side, the final battle between the two monsters was overly long and pretty boring. There is definitely a measure of comfort to be found in the Godzilla formula, as fans go in expecting and enjoying the typical Big G tropes, but Godzilla 2000: Millennium hammers the familiar nail too often.

3

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)

Kiryu Returns For More Robotic Mayhem

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. picks up one year after the events of Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, and once again pits Godzilla against Kiryu, an iteration of Mechagodzilla literally built around the bones of the 1954 Godzilla. The two Kiryu-centric movies involve the remote pilot Akane Yashiro, and feature two great performances from Yumiko Shagu in the role which elevates both movies. Tokyo S.O.S. manages to shoehorn Mothra into the plot, essentially making it a two-on-one battle between against Godzilla until Mothra once again sacrifices herself.

While there are certainly some flaws in the overall plot and a less-developed human cast, Tokyo S.O.S. deserves credit for putting the focus squarely on the monsters and their battles. The taut, well-paced script is simplistic, but that is a feature, not a bug in this case. Tokyo S.O.S. never does anything to rise into the upper echelon of Godzilla movies, but it’s entertaining on its own and one of the stronger entries in the Millennium Era.

2

Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)

The Darkest Version Of Godzilla Wreaks Havoc

The movie colloquially known as GMK in Godzilla fan circles often divides the fanbase due to its depiction of Godzilla. The white-eyed, truly evil version of the monster is a manifestation of the angry souls of those killed during the Pacific War, and it rubbed some Godzilla fans the wrong way. Likewise, King Ghidorah is depicted as a defender of Earth rather than a force of destruction, as he, Mothra, and Baragon act as the three guardian monsters sent to stop a vengeful Godzilla. The movie is much more somber than most of the other entries in the Millennium Era.

However, the pivot away form the traditional depictions of Godzilla and King Ghidorah make the movie interesting right from the jump, as it offers something truly unique as opposed to the more formulaic entries in the Millennium Era. The special effects are outstanding by Godzilla standards, and the more adult themes are appreciated by many, especially those who reject the camp of the Showa Era in favor of Godzilla’s original, metaphorical origins. In 2023, Collider even named it the best Godzilla movie ever, ahead of even the 1954 original.

1

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)

The Introduction Of Kiryu And Its Absolute Zero Cannon

As mentioned above, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and its sequel Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. focus on the Kiryu iteration of Mechagodzilla as an initially benevolent defense mechanism. Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla is carried by Yumiko Shaku’s performance as Lt. Akane Yashiro, the pilot for Kiryu, who carries real guilt and regret of failure into her battles against Godzilla. The initial design for Kiryu is among the coolest designs in Godzilla’s movie history, especially with the upgrades it receives and its powerful Absolute Zero Cannon.

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla sees Kiryu go rogue thanks to a clever mechanism: the modern Godzilla’s roar triggers the memories of the original Godzilla, onto whose skeleton the cyborg Kiryu is crafted. It adds a level of depth to Kiryu, and it feels like one of the very few enemies of Godzilla that feels like a real character as opposed to a mindless, destructive kaiju. Once again the script is well-paced and sharp, and the monster battles are among the strongest in the Millennium Era. Kiryu is recognized as one of Godzilla‘s best movie foes for a reason.

Source: Collider

Godzilla

Movie(s)

Godzilla, Godzilla 2, Godzilla 3, Shin Godzilla, Godzilla, Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Kong, Godzilla Minus One, Mothra vs. Godzilla, Godzilla Vs King Kong, Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., godzilla: monster planet, Godzilla vs. Gigan, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, Godzilla: Final Wars, King Kong vs. Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Godzilla: The Showa Era Films, Godzilla vs. Biollante

Created by

Tomoyuki Tanaka, Akira Watanabe

First Film

Godzilla

Latest Film

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

First Episode Air Date

November 17, 2023

Cast

Akira Takarada, Momoko Kôchi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell

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