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Terror of MechaGodzilla (1975)

Terror of Godzilla
Revenge of Mechagodzilla
Monsters from an Unknown Planet
Mekagojira No Gyakushu
(Counterattack of MechaGodzilla)


Cast:

Akihiko Hirato is Dr. Mafune
Tomoka Ai is Katsura Mafune
Kamsumasa Uchida is Jiro Murakoshi
Kastsuhiko Sasaki is Akira Ichinose
Tomoe Mari is Yuri Yamamotto
Goro Mutsu is Mugaru Leader


What the box says:

INVADERS FROM THE THIRD PLANET OF THE BLACK HOLE PLAN TO TAKE OVER THE EARTH WITH THEIR POWERFUL 400-FOOT TALL ROBOT MACHAGODZILLA!

Armed with an arsenal of lasers and missiles, MechaGodzilla lies damaged on the ocean floor from an earlier battle with Godzilla. The aliens enlist the aid of a disgruntled scientist Professor Mafuni to repair the damaged MechaGodzilla and send the newly discovered underwater dinosaur called Titanosaurus against Godzilla. Titanosaurus is telepathically controlled by the professor's cyborg-daughter Katsura, making the odds for Godzilla's chances for victory slim. Luckily, a weakness in Titanosaurus is discovered giving Godzilla the edge in the battle to save the world!

This classic marked the return of monster-director Inoshiro Honda, the original and best of the Godzilla directors.


Plot:

Godzilla is fighting his evil twin until it transforms into Mechagodzilla. They fight in a burning city as the credits roll.

Godzilla arises from the ocean. He is fighting Mechagodzilla who creates a force field by spinning his head around like Linda Blair in the Exorcist. Godzilla can’t compete with using against his atomic breath versus eye lasers. Mechagodzilla starts throwing darts into Godzilla who counterattacks by turning himself into a giant electromagnet.

Mechagodzilla can’t escape. We get some sweet Kaiju wrestling as Godzilla tears Mechagodzilla into several pieces. The winner and still champion is Godzilla....

Katsura is on the beach as a toy submarine in the ocean searches for Mechagodzilla. The toy sub dives, and stock sea animal footage ensues. It is imperative they retrieve Mechagodzilla’s head.

Katsura keeps watching while the sub searches. Suddenly, it is attacked. The Titanosaurus emerges from the deep and jumps on the submarine.

At the local INTERPOL office, they hear of the sub attack. They don’t know about Titanosaurus, just heard reports of something strange. They listen to a message the sub sent. A giant dinosaur is attacking the sub. And, they don’t seem to put much faith in the people who drowned in the sub.

A couple of guys are talking. These are aliens from the 3rd planet of Black Hole. They plan to destroy Tokyo and rebuild to their preferences. The last of their planets are sinking into the Black Hole. They must conqueror Earth. One of the aliens plans to use Dr. Mafune who hates Earthlings. And the aliens saved his daughter, Katsura. Dr. Mafune was too brilliant and ridiculed by his colleagues.

Akira, a member of the Ocean Exploitation Institute, discusses the life history of Dr. Mafune. He planned to control sea animals. Mafune even claimed to discover and control a giant dinosaur called Titanosaurus. INTERPOL agent Jiro and Ocean Exploiter Akira try talking with Mafune’s colleagues. They go to visit Mafune in person. Arriving at a Spanish Ranch style house in Japan? No answer when they buzz the doorbell. The old caretaker ignores them. Katsura opens the door telling them her father died. She doesn’t know anything about his work. Jiro and Akira leave.

Mafune and the alien leader have a toast. He has a remote control for Titanosaurus. Katsura tells Mafune about Jiro and Akira. Mafune will have his revenge with the aid of the aliens.

Mafune, Katsura, and the alien go to a cave, secret base. Mechagodzilla is being rebuilt.


We can make him stronger, faster, the 6 billion yen MECHAGODZILLA!!!
Mafune learns these people are all aliens. They know the Titanosaurus control will help them control Mechagodzilla. Somehow, an earthling prisoner escapes the base chased by silver suited aliens.

A sewer worker sees a guy being chased by a group of silver suited guys. Apparently, this was so commonplace in the early 70s, he wasn’t alarmed by it.

Back at the Ocean Institute, they are building a new sub. Akira (Tetsuoooo!!!!) finds a few of Mafune’s journals. Apparently, Titanosaurus is a gentle dinosaur. Katsura arrives and he shows them to her. Akira offers to let her go on the sub and help prove her father’s theories. She is scared.

Later, Mafune lectures her about associating with humans. Her mother died in poverty while Mafune worked on his theories that were scorned by the world of science. He has gone too far to quit now. Mafune learns of the new sub mission.

Sewer worker tells INTERPOL how he got a small piece of space titanium from a man being chased by dudes in silver suits. The escapee was an INTERPOL agent.

Mechagodzilla is still being rebuilt. Mafune is installing circuitry, when he finally finishes his work on Mecha G-Mon.

Katsura refuses to help look for Titanosaurus even though she’s been invited on the sub again. After she runs off, aliens grab her. The aliens didn’t just save her but brought her back to life. We get a flashback to her accident. She and Mafune were working on an experiment. A short circuit electrocutes her. The aliens appear suddenly and carry her off. They weld her up good.

Katsura awakens back in the present. The aliens order her to tow the line and hate humans. She is ordered to summon Titanosaurus to attack the sub.

Akira remembers Katsura’s warning. The sub has launched on its mission. Titanosaurus is swimming around the sub. As it approaches the sub, with Katsura controlling it something disables Titanosaurus long enough for the sub to escape.

Akira learns the dinosaur has a weakness to supersonic beams. They plan to build a giant supersonic oscillator.

Akira stops by Mafune’s house, follows a car. He is stumbling around a mountain, sees a group head into a cave. Akira is knocked out. When he awakens, he is surrounded by aliens. Jiro saves him and they escape.

At the alien base, Katsura tells Mafune that Titanosaurus has a weakness they don’t know about, yet.

Ocean Institute is having a briefing on the supersonic beam generator. Jiro reports to INTERPOL about strange men in the mountains, not sure if they’re aliens. Katsura gives some of Mafune’s notes to Akira. Tea-drinking ensues. Akira tells her about the weakness of the dinosaur.

Mafune will unleash Titanosaurus. Katsura doesn’t want it to be known as a killer like Ghidrah. Mafune wants humanity to pay for treating him badly. He will release Titanosaurus on a city.

Titanosaurus marches on the toy tanks. Akira learns the supersonic beam generator was sabotaged. Titanosaurus is attacked by the military. Akira spots a man and woman leaving where the generator was sabotaged. Common sense, strangers in a restricted area would be the most logical suspects.

At the alien base, they see Godzilla is heading towards Titanosaurus. It will be killed by Godzilla who will be hurt enough for Mechagodzilla to kill him. Then, the aliens will destroy Tokyo.

Residents of the city panic as Titanosaurus keeps attacking. He is being bombed by planes. The people evacuate ad the city is being destroyed.

Godzilla arrives. No monster trashes Japanese cities but G-Mon.

Godzilla is fighting Titanosaurus. Katsura is being chased by soldiers. Mafune has Titanosaurus retreat.

Akira can’t believe Katsura sabotaged the generator. Akira trusted her.

Katsura is being repaired again. The aliens are angry that Mafune had Titanosaurus retreat. He is to follow orders from now on or else.

The supersonic beam generator will take 2 days to be repaired. Jiro will search for the alien base.

Mechagodzilla must be prepped. The cyborg Katsura has the circuitry in her head to control Mechagodzilla. After the aliens conquer the planet, Mafune and his daughter will be left alone in peace. He checks on Katsura later. Mafune apologizes to her realizing he did her wrong.


I control the vertical and the horizontal with my kicking hat...

Akira vows to continue Mafune’s work. But, is knocked unconscious and captured by the smirking aliens. Akira finally meets Doctor Mafune and sees Katsura. The aliens will take over the Earth. Katsura activates Mechagodzilla who flies off.

Jiro and his crack team of INTERPOL agents find the alien base. They free a group of captives; help them to escape before the base explodes.

Titanosaurus and Mechagodzilla will take on Godzilla in a handicap match. But, they warm up by destroying the city. Residents evacuate as Mechagodzilla sets buildings on fire. Titanosaurus causes wind storms. The destruction keeps on coming.

Godzilla runs down from the stage and into the ring, plows into Titanosaurus. Sweet Kaiju Fu ensues. Godzilla can’t handle Titanosaurus’s wind storm. Mechagodzilla uses his laser eye beams against Godzilla who seems to be over his head.

The scientists are rebuilding the supersonic beam generator.

Godzilla charges Titanosaurus again, while Mechagodzilla watches. Mecha G enters the fray. Godzilla has to fight both of them. He can’t compete against such a tag team. Godzilla is buried alive.

The scientists mount the generator on a helicopter. Elsewhere, Jiro and his men destroy the control for Titanosaurus.

Back at the other alien base, Akira tries talking to Katsura. But, she won’t listen.

The helicopter flies about Titanosaurus. They shoot a transmitter into his neck then use the generator. I’m sure they started broadcasting the “Dark Side” song from Eddie and the Cruisers into his head. The alien control begins overloading; nothing can compete against the musical styling of John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band.

Mechagodzilla is about to destroy the helicopter when Godzilla digs him out of the grave. He escaped the buried alive match. This is surely a champion, giving his all.

It is Godzilla versus Mechagodzilla who tries using his energy beam eyes while the ref isn’t watching. Godzilla is battered, bloodied, and on fire. But, he just keeps coming, nothing can stop him. Godzilla gets his hands, paws on Mechagodzilla a sweet Kaiju wrestling ensues.

The helicopter’s beam generator forces Titanosaurus to run away.

Back at the alien base, INTERPOL is approaching.

Akira escapes. Katsura has a gun on him, threatens to shoot him. Jiro arrives, winging Katsura. Akira cradles her.

Godzilla pulls Mechagodzilla’s head off. He has to fight the body, now.

Alien grabs Mafune, calls to Katsura. Guess what? Akira is in love with Katsura. How could we have missed the subtle hints dropped throughout the movie?

Godzilla tosses Mechagodzilla’s body around like a rag doll. Godzilla chases after Titanosaurus.

Alien is chased by Jiro. He jumps into the ocean and a fleet of flying saucers leave.

Godzilla is whaling upon Titanosaurus. Sees a few flying saucers pass by, so he unleashes his atomic breath on them. The helicopter keeps broadcasting the supersonic frequency distract Titanosaurus. Godzilla uses his atomic breath on him and falls into the ocean. With his enemies thoroughly beaten, the champion heads to sea and for a much deserved rest.


What I say:

Terror of MechaGodzilla the last Godzilla movie from the 70s and last one until Godzilla 1985. More than that, this was the last movie where Godzilla was the hero. The Godzilla movies might not have ended on the best movie. But, they could have ended on a far weaker and lamer Godzilla movie.

They slowly set up the pieces for the epic fight at the end. We have to get some of the best model destruction scenes from any Godzilla movie. One scene you even see the Godzilla suit on fire! The models aren't realistic. But, after so many years of computer generated effects crammed down our throats, model tanks and buildings have a certain charm to them.

In a way the movies with Godzilla as the hero at least have this interesting idea. No one worries how to get rid of Godzilla. I’ll be sick if see one more scientist suggest building an electric fence to stop Godzilla.

The biggest problem is that besides the Godzilla Mechagodzilla fight at the very beginning there aren't really any Kaiju battles for nearly an hour. An hour of scientists and police debating what to do while we get a group of German accented Japanese aliens plotting to destroy Tokyo seems to have been done a little too much. But, when we get to the fight between Godzilla and his opponents: Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus, we get some of the best Kaiju fights yet.

We have the stereotypical mad scientist wanting revenge. Why? His colleagues mocked him for being more brilliant and for claiming he could control a giant dinosaur. You’d think in a world where a giant green lizard that breathes fire regularly attempts to destroy Tokyo would at least have more people believe in the possibility that there are still some dinosaurs left.

Ishiro Honda is one of the more recognized of the Godzilla directors. Godzilla's Revenge, Godzilla Vs Mothra, Godzilla Vs Monster Zero. He also directed the original Rodan, Mothra, Ghidrah the Three Headed Monster movies, too. Granted, the field of Japanese Kaiju movies isn't widely considered for the great directors it produced. But, Ishiro Honda was probably the most acclaimed of the Kaiju directors.

If you’re not really sure what happened near then end from what I wrote, don’t worry, I’m not quite sure myself. Katsura was shot in the arm, next scene she looks like she’s dying. But, don’t know how it happened. The Japanese version has Katsura commit suicide to save everyone. But, the bargain bin DVD is a far cry from what would have given Godzilla the sendoff in Terror of Mechagodzilla he deserved.



2 1/2 NINJAS

Quotable Dialogue

“The sub was specially designed by us…The Ocean Exploitation Institute.”
“I’ll take revenge on those fools who thought I was crazy and forced me to resign.”
“You’re heart is frozen and dry, who’d love a cyborg?


Morals of the Story

Spanish-ranch style houses are very big in Japan.
Japanese aliens with German accents are truly sinister.
Mechagodzilla is Cylon.