GODZILLA
Japan, 1984, 87 minutes, Colour.
Raymond Burr.
Directed by Kohji Hashimoto, R.J. Kizer.
Godzilla - 1985 had a marvellous trailer: it highlighted Godzilla anonymously as the great dynamic star of the mid-'50s (almost paralleling the experience and career of James Dean). It then blazoned the fact that the monster was returning.
The return is a Saturday matinee affair - Japanese- American co-production with execrable dubbing for the Japanese characters. There is an American cast, looking stern, led by Raymond Burr as a reporter who had experienced Godzilla's first attack.
The film relies, naturally, on special effects - and these do not compare well to American versions of monster films. Godzilla emerges from a volcano, attacks ships, goes on the rampage (with heavy music beats) trampling down Tokyo and destroying buildings galore. There is, naturally, a hero, a heroine - who somehow or other seem to be involved in everything from reporting to scientific investigation. The scientists are also trying to work out how to combat Godzilla. There are special stunts and rescues - a bit reminiscent of the helicopter rescue in Towering Inferno.
The film highlights the Japanese popular mentality - of a national monster which is able to rise and terrorise Japan.
What is of interest for the 1985 audience is the focus on nuclear weapons. The film highlights the fact that the major powers have missiles, that they can be turned onto Godzilla - but with dire consequences for fallout and radiation. A dead Japanese officer has set the process on train. There is to-ing and fro-ing between Washington, Moscow and Tokyo with the politicians having to make decisions. Ultimately the Americans have to fire a missile to explode the missile moving towards Tokyo for the destruction of Godzilla.
While the material and treatment are matinee style, the screenwriters have taken the aspect of the contemporary nightmare - the helpful use and the destructive use of nuclear weapons and made it a focus of their thriller.
The film is of negligible entertainment value - of interest for political and nuclear themes.
