Godzilla vs. Megalon (1974)

Godzilla vs. Megalon (1974)

Synopsis

In Godzilla vs. Megalon, the angry Seatopians send their secret weapon Megalon to destroy Tokyo and eliminate the human race. But Earth still has a chance when the sleeping Godzilla is rudely awakened.

Review

Godzilla vs. Megalon is, simply put, a kid’s film.  If you take it as such, you’ll enjoy it.  There’s no deep social commentary here.  It’s just guys in rubbers suits acting like pro wrestlers.

The basic story is: atomic testing by Japan threatens the undersea nation of Seatopia.  They decide to attack, and destroy, the surface world in self defense.  To do that, they unleash an insect-like Kaiju named Megalon.   Megalon is the deity that they worship.  Megalon, although powerful, isn’t that intelligent.

Seatopia first sends a pair of spies to Japan, to steal an experimental robot — Jet Jaguar.  They plan to use the robot to lead the monster.  Eventually, the robot’s creator (and friends) free Jet Jaguar to come to Godzilla’s aid.  The robot magically enlarges itself to Kaiju size, and it’s a four-way free for all.  It’s not unlike a tag team match in the WWE.  With Godzilla and Jet Jaguar vs. Megalon and his fellow Kaiju monster, Gigan.

In conclusion, Godzilla vs. Megalon is an enjoyable return to childhood.  It’s not deep, and it doesn’t pretend to be.  It’s an enjoyable popcorn movie for a rainy afternoon.

Cast of characters

• Megalon is Godzilla’s equal in size, and power.  It has two ranged weapons.  He fires lightning-like energy from the horn on his head, and spits fireballs out of its’ mouth.  It’s capable of flight, with wings hidden beneath its’ beetle-like shell.  It’s arms are drill-like, used as both weapons and burrowing. He flies, burrows, and swims at high speeds.  This is his only appearance to date in a Godzilla movie, although he appears in several video games.
• Gigan is the antagonist of the previous film, Godzilla vs. Gigan.  Seatopia’s allies, the Space Hunter Nebula M aliens send him to “help”.  Gigan’s a cyborg kaiju, with a buzz saw in his abdomen and hooks for hands.  He’s also one of the nastiest, most blood-thirsty enemies that Godzilla has ever faced.
• Jet Jaguar is a robot, created by Goro.  It’s one of those movie robots that has any ability that the script calls for.  He can flight, shoot energy beams, increase his size, etc.  By the end of the film, he’s developed artificial intelligence and thinks for himself.
• Godzilla, the King of the Monsters.  The original, irradiated dinosaur with vast strength, radioactive breath, and rapid healing. In Godzilla vs. Megalon he has the more kid-friendly appearance.
• Goro Ibuki (Katsuhiko Sasaki , Terror of Mechagodzilla). The brilliant young inventor who creates Jet Jaguar, stumbles upon the invasion, gets kidnapped, escapes, and sets his robot into the fray.
• Rokuru Hiroyuki Kawase, Godzilla vs. Hedora).  Goro’s nephew, and stereotypical cute kid.
• Hiroshi Jinkawa (Yutaka Hayashi).  Goro’s friend and helper.
• Emperor Antonio of Seatopia (Robert Dunham, The Green Slime).  The leader of Seatopia, who frankly is trying to keep his people alive.  Of course, slaughtering all of us on the surface is probably overkill.  Pardon the pun.

Editorial review of Godzilla vs. Megalon courtesy of Amazon

The undersea kingdom of Seatroplis is threatened when Japan begins atomic testing near Tokyo. The angry Seatopians send their secret weapon, Megalon, to destroy Tokyo and eliminate the human race. But earth gets once last chance when the sleeping Godzilla is rudely awakened! It becomes a titanic tag team of apocalyptic dimensions as Godzilla and robot superhero Jet Jaguar fight Megalon and Gigan in an all-out rubber-suit rumble to determine Earth s fate.