I will always have a soft spot in my heart for this movie. It was the first Godzilla movie I ever saw. My grandparents rented in from the video store for me and my brother. I was only 4 and it captured my imagination!
This film used to terrify me as a child. Still easily one of my favorites. From the darker horror over tones to the excellent soundtrack, almost everything here works.
Especially considering that at the time I had only seen the showa films where he was a hero and friend to children. It was quite the shock for me at the time.
It's interesting how this movie has gained appreciation over time. When it came out, it was not treated very kindly. And I remember thinking - wow that was a LOT better, more believable take on Godzilla than the campy ones! Why the hate? (Mind you, I prefer a world where Godzilla exists as both Godlike unstoppable force of nature, and campy, pro-wrestling move wielding Kid Hero). GOD how I love that he is both. :)
Time has been kind, I believe. Also, more people outside of Japan have been able to see the Japanese version without Raymond Burr. Really, the American versions of these films with the dubbing and re-editing are never as good.
I agree. I don’t think that many people have rated the old Godzilla movies because this movie only got like 20% by the movie critics but other movies like son of Godzilla were rated much higher and that’s a head scratcher because to me even if I include the American movies that warner brothers are putting out this is easily in my top three best Godzilla movies of all time list. Godzilla is taken seriously again and they actually try to make this a scary monster movie. It was refreshing to see Godzilla in a movie being a serious threat and there aren’t any other monsters for him to fight because there doesn’t always need to be that. I just re-watched this movie last night and I think it’s still very underappreciated. I see newer Godzilla fans Raving about the Warner Bros. movies, which I admit I do enjoy those movies a lot but I think I would take this one over any of the new Warner Bros. movies any day.
This was the first Godzilla movie I saw. I remember watching it with my father. It was a prime time premiere showing on TV. I remember the Dr Pepper adds and all lol. I must have been 4 or 5 and it scared the shit outta me and made me cry at the end. It was the beginning of my life long obsession with Godzilla. Godzilla 54 and Godzilla 85 and Shin Godzilla make the perfect solo outing series.
I agree the original Godzilla 54/55, Godzilla 84/85, and Shin Godzilla are my top three Godzilla movies. The original is a classic, the 80's version is a great sequel/continuation, and Shin Godzilla is a great update of the character, while still staying true to the character. I personally feel all three are great Godzilla movies in their own right.
My absolute favorite. The terror theme of the film is how I would expect a Godzilla encounter to go. Then the heartbreaking death of Godzilla in the volcano followed by the narration of Raymond Burr just brings a tear to my eye.
@@treystephens6166 in the English dub off 1985 they gave the impression that he was following the main cast in Tokyo right after he beat super x, but I just watched the original 1984 version and my previous statement definitely wasn't the case in that version lol but 1985 English dub kinda does
Big spiritual shout out to my middle school librarian for letting me rent this movie for the weekend once I found it in the video storage office haha. It may have been the American cut but freshly discovered Godzilla movies warms hearts either way.
@@alexyoutubechannel8175 The story line to the Return of Godzilla makes more sense then the story line of KOTM. I don't understand your point of view in regards to KOTM?
@@alexyoutubechannel8175 The Return of Godzilla is one of my favorites. I simply just didn't understand your comment about it being as underated as KOTM? Being underated doesn't really apply for as I noticed how the movie has gained appreciation and popularity since being released from Kracken.
@@ktapreswreckd921v9 I respect your opinion but I personally think this movie is overrated I still like it by I dont think this film is worthy of top 15 or top 10
This IMO is the *PERFECT* Godzilla movie. The plot, the special-effects for the time were good, the suit, the acting, the musical-score, the tone, the dialogue, and that f'n ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!
I still mainly remember watching Godzilla 1985. The craziest thing I realized in comparing that to Godzilla returns is the whole scene with Russian launch control ship parked in Tokyo bay. In the 1985 version they made it look like the guy was trying to send the launch command before he died. But in the original version he was trying to stop the launch but died before he could send the order. And just like in the fifties Raymond Burr was there to help the American audience understand it better.
First one I remember seeing. The way the movie was filmed impressed me even when I was a little kid. Probably has my favorite ending as well. The scene were the lighting wakes me up always gave me chills.
This is one on my top 5. It scared me as a child but i absolutely loved watching it. I love how it has its own music and the music was never used again. The roar is so deep and full of fear. Just a great film
I've always loved this film. I remember watching it on VHS as a kid continuously...until it got ruined. Anyways, another great review! Get wait for the next entry.
This is when I fell in love with Big G... I remember when I saw the poster and the inflatable toy at a video near my house... I always wanted one! Althought my 1st movie was Godzilla vs Megalon this was when I first knew about it
My first Godzilla film. I have fond memories of this monster adventure and, despite its critical flaws, it remains one of my favorites. Nice video and channel! Subscribed.
Great review to my favorite movie in the franchise. This is the movie (well technically Godzilla 1985 is) that introduced me to the character via movie trailer. It's also the first Godzilla movie I saw in theaters thanks to my uncle taking 4 year old me to see it.
Godzilla 1984 is by far the most underrated Godzilla. I consider it to be a milestone for this franchise. If you were to make a Godzilla movie that has a Godzilla specific, than Godzilla 1984 would have to be one of those movies you should get inspired from.
This was the first Godzilla movie I watched as a kid and I absolutely loved it. A friend of mine had it recorded on VHS and we watched it many many times. Good times :)
People don’t hate the ‘84 film itself. They hate for how it was altered for American audiences, consumed with over the top Dr. Pepper marketing, and that the film was criticized for being UNLIKE the child friendly films. Most can agree The Return of Godzilla is extremely well done and holds up relatively well while Godzilla 1985 is a disgrace to the film’s intentions.
@@art_christiancahalan Well said. Not to mention how in Godzilla 85. The movie had the Russians intentionally fire the nuke. That's was just plain dirty.
I remember crying when they killed godzilla in the end...as a kid godzilla was my favorite monster and seeing him in that pit dying is seared into my brain lol
To be honest, I've never been a big fan of this Godzilla design like everyone else. This Godzilla looks kinda off to me, it still has that showa vibe to it and it just comes off as silly. I prefer the menacing reptilian design of the millennium Godzilla over this, Though that's just me.
If you're talking about the overall Heisei design, I disagree, but if you're talking about this movie in particular I have to agree. It looks fake for lack of a better term. Like a comedic version of the uncanny valley. It's so close to being intimidating, but then it falls just short and becomes goofy as hell.
@@Thumbdumpandthebumpchump I was referring to the 1984 design specifically. The 1989 and 1990s design looks so better. Although the roars got worse, they should have kept the 1984/89 roar, that roar was badass.
The Heisei Godzilla design from 1989-1995 was the absolute best Godzilla has ever looked. It’s a real shame that the 84 suit kind of stands as a good idea of what the film feels like to me: an awkward transitional film between the Showa and Heisei eras. Godzilla stands tall and menacing, but his proportions look off, and his face feels too Showa-esque. His snout is too short and his eyes look too rounded and cartoony, like the Showa designs before him. Also, he has a lot of bad cases of derp face throughout this movie that don’t exactly help him look any better.
I think I'm the only person who likes this design more than any before or after, lol maybe it's just nostalgia. I do like the shin Godzilla design almost equally though.
I don't mind the design but yeah it's kinda off for me. I mean this is one of my favorite Godzilla movies mind you. I think Biollante got the Heisei design down perfectly with only needing a few tweaks here and there. Especially when this shoot looks crosseyed in some shots like when the Super X was taking off for the final battle and Godzilla is watching it.
The scene between Godzilla and the Ihama Nuclear Power plant technician is one of the best ever with a Godzilla/person interaction. The way it was filmed was perfect.
The American version (Godzilla 1985) and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla were the first two Godzilla movies I ever saw. Nearly 30 years later, I’m still a fan!
I love Akira Ifukube, but Reijiro Koroku's score for this film was such a breath of fresh air. Even though he didn't return for Biollante, Koichi Sugiyama's score for that felt like a nice extension of this score.
Easily my favorite Godzilla movie after the original 1954 film. It's almost flawless in its execution, especially with its inclusion of the Cold War. But if there is just one nitpick, it's the sea louse in the beginning. We only see one throughout the film when the Big G should have hundreds of them all over his body; and quite frankly, they should've been more of a threat to the Tokyo population than the Big G himself. Other than that, The Return of Godzilla is nothing short of a masterpiece. Even the poster is the best Godzilla poster ever designed.
Spot on review! while it's kind of goofy in places ,the american in the war room and the tank driver immediately come to mind! But while it does have it's flaws, it was definitely a return to form!
When Legendary (or maybe Gareth Edwards) was hyping up their Godzilla film to be darker and for G to be a menacing force of nature, I had really hoped they would follow in this movie's footsteps. Somehow the darkest, most haunting of the Godzilla movies.
Having just watched this after seeing Shin Godzilla a few weeks ago, it's crazy how much Shin Godzilla was inspired by this movie; the introduction of characters' names via subtitles and having a Goro Maki as well are just the main things, but there's a lot of political discussion about the morality of using nukes against Godzilla as well.
Just saw this movie for the first time today and I can't believe Ive never made an attempt before. I grew up watching the 90's series over and over on VHS and I didn't hear about this movie until I was a little old. But by then, I never gave it much thought. Sure am kick myself now, though. lol It a phenomenal Godzilla movie. I think it's close to being a masterpiece even.
I grew up with Godzilla being one of the coolest things to go see at the theater. And I Agree with the majority of the comments here as well as the video. THIS Restored my faith that NO ONE or NOTHING can stop or kill the Mighty Godzilla. Whom is truly an unstoppable Force of nature. And even if one does fall. He returns later. Smarter, More destructive and more unstoppable then the previous monster. The design and the looks are Perfect. More menacing, More terrifying. Then any of the previous creatures. I LOVED Monster Wars it showed That GODZILLA is Truly The KING of All Monsters. 2014 was pretty bad ass too. It portraited the evolution of the Godzilla Creature as that one was an Aging but still Very Deadly Monster even against the MUTOs. So the Next one should be quite something to see.
I'll never forget the good old days of going to my local video store with my Dad, & always picking this movie up. In fact I even got a little kid to watch this movie a few years ago, & he instantly wanted to see more Godzilla movies(and yes his family took him to see KOTM).
Definitely one of my Top Ten Favorite Godzilla films, hopefully the Criterion Collection will do a reissue of the entire Heisei Era as they did the Showa Era!
I thought that this was a great follow to the original, except for the ending. I just can't accept how clumsily Godzilla met his end(?). "Ooo... birdies! Whoops, I fell into a volcano..."
This is my second favorite Godzilla film of all time, the first being G vs King Ghidorah. I like The Return of Godzilla (specifically the 1985 ending) bc...well... ...the scream at the end, oddly enough. I'm surprised you didn't cover that scream, it haunts me in my dreams even today. They captured all the pain of a damned soul in that sound. Love this movie though, for that and all the reasons you listed.
That's because there was no scream in the Japanese version, which is the version I watched. The addition of the scream is one of the positive changes made to the American cut.
@@UpFromTheDepths88 Ah, thanks for the clarification. If they could splice that scream into the Japanese original version, the movie would pretty much be perfect... :(
When I was a kid, this movie left me absolutely sobbing because I thought it was the end of Godzilla for real. I was just inconsolable in tears at the final scene. Even now it's still incredibly emotional. I think this one's due for a re-watch honestly. Then I can pivot right to vs .Biollante and vs. King Ghidorah which are two of my other favs.
happy 40th anniversary return of godzilla!!!(love that intro showing godzilla was back.:3) would say it'd darker with the deaths that happen(with godzilla burning people onscreen/the hobo dying from his attack destroying a building,the train attack & almost causing a world war that the heroic russian ship captain dying trying to prevent it only to accidentally power godzilla/even the big g's sea lice being kaiju facehuggers.) though love it showed godzilla is an animal that looking back only causes his rampage out of confusion mostly roaming not destroying much like a bear or lion/justifiable anger being attacked by the super x wanting revenge(also being dropped into a volcano with how terrified he sounded that even the humans felt sorry for him knowing it was them who caused it)& the prime minister being a visually compelling character to a strong start to the heisei era.(wish we saw him in future heisei films befriending miki.)
This was the first Godzilla film I ever watched and still my favorite. Well technically it was 1985, I didn't actually get to see the unaltered original until about a year ago. Which is now my favorite though the Americanized version still has a special place for being the movie that introduced me to Godzilla. Makes me feel kind of old to say I watched this on RCA's CED format but I did. It was years until I could buy the VHS. And decades until I could obtain the original on Blu-ray.
This was the first Godzilla movie that I saw in a theater. I totally loved it. Even though he had a few bit parts in the movie, It was really good to see the late Raymond Burr as well.
I do wish we got Godzilla 1985 on DVD since I think it really does do some scenes MUCH better. The sea louse attack is shorter and scarier, the Russian submarine destruction is tighter, some effects are different but just as good. Like I while I love seeing people scrambling around as Godzilla fights the Super X I also love how Tokyo feels like a ghost town around Godzilla in 1985. Plus I appreciate Raymond Burr wanting to take the film seriously and his closing monologue is great.
Ever seen Submersion of Japan or Prophecies of Nostradamus? This movie owes its entire tone and existence to those movies. Keiju Kobayashi was great in the former
Everything must people see in Shin Godzilla, i saw it in this movie and even more, a Godzilla with a true personality and characters that at least have something behind them and aren't just there to spitout the mensage and themes of the movie.
I have the same story as many, I saw this after a rental at my local video store and I fell in love with Godzilla! Being born in 1985 I felt a connection with this film as in the US the title of the film was Godzilla 1985, fitting for my first Godzilla movie. Have loved Godzilla ever since! Love Godzilla's design too, I only wish this design would have been used to a greater influence for the new Godzilla's designs.
I will always have a soft spot in my heart for this movie. It was the first Godzilla movie I ever saw. My grandparents rented in from the video store for me and my brother. I was only 4 and it captured my imagination!
Let me guess, you saw it around the time when you saw Jurassic park (1993)?
Not sure, memory's a bit fuzzy, but it was probably around that same time.
@@UpFromTheDepths88 speaking of which, now that you did a retrospective of the 1st movie back in June, what are your thoughts on the sequels?
Always loved The Lost World despite its flaws, was disappointed by JP3, Jurassic World is dumb nostalgic fun, and Fallen Kingdom is just dumb.
@@UpFromTheDepths88
Agreed with the 1st movie.
Disagree with the lost world.
Agreed with JP3
Kinda agree with JW
Kinda disagree with JWFK
My favorite Godzilla movie. The start of the dark era.
With a few silly things in the middle
@@Godzilla-tu2cd not the 1985 Americanized version. I hate that version.
Nice to see that this is someone else favorite movie in the franchise.
I like the return of Godzilla as well. Though its not my favorite Godzilla movie
@@doom7ish but the ending was pretty good
This film used to terrify me as a child. Still easily one of my favorites. From the darker horror over tones to the excellent soundtrack, almost everything here works.
saw it when i was 7 yrs old
scared da shit out of me too. that music and that loud ass roar
Especially considering that at the time I had only seen the showa films where he was a hero and friend to children. It was quite the shock for me at the time.
The whole sea louse scene would always freak me out
This is honestly my favorite movie of the Heisei era. :)
Right there with you... My first Godzilla movie and still my favorite!!!
I prefer Destroyah, Biolante, and MechaGodzilla 2.
Mine too
It is the darkest of the heisei series
Mine too but from the heisei series
It's interesting how this movie has gained appreciation over time. When it came out, it was not treated very kindly. And I remember thinking - wow that was a LOT better, more believable take on Godzilla than the campy ones! Why the hate? (Mind you, I prefer a world where Godzilla exists as both Godlike unstoppable force of nature, and campy, pro-wrestling move wielding Kid Hero).
GOD how I love that he is both. :)
Time has been kind, I believe. Also, more people outside of Japan have been able to see the Japanese version without Raymond Burr. Really, the American versions of these films with the dubbing and re-editing are never as good.
The american version of godzilla 1954 was good.
@oO{ Dawabo }Oo dang dude, u didn't need to destroy him like that.
I agree. I don’t think that many people have rated the old Godzilla movies because this movie only got like 20% by the movie critics but other movies like son of Godzilla were rated much higher and that’s a head scratcher because to me even if I include the American movies that warner brothers are putting out this is easily in my top three best Godzilla movies of all time list. Godzilla is taken seriously again and they actually try to make this a scary monster movie. It was refreshing to see Godzilla in a movie being a serious threat and there aren’t any other monsters for him to fight because there doesn’t always need to be that. I just re-watched this movie last night and I think it’s still very underappreciated. I see newer Godzilla fans Raving about the Warner Bros. movies, which I admit I do enjoy those movies a lot but I think I would take this one over any of the new Warner Bros. movies any day.
This was the first Godzilla movie I saw. I remember watching it with my father. It was a prime time premiere showing on TV. I remember the Dr Pepper adds and all lol. I must have been 4 or 5 and it scared the shit outta me and made me cry at the end. It was the beginning of my life long obsession with Godzilla.
Godzilla 54 and Godzilla 85 and Shin Godzilla make the perfect solo outing series.
Shin! Man, Shin is just fantastic! So fresh and different, with really devastating effects and good story.
I agree the original Godzilla 54/55, Godzilla 84/85, and Shin Godzilla are my top three Godzilla movies. The original is a classic, the 80's version is a great sequel/continuation, and Shin Godzilla is a great update of the character, while still staying true to the character. I personally feel all three are great Godzilla movies in their own right.
The meetings in Shin were unbearable. The meetings in the Return of Gozilla were the opposite!
@@ktapreswreckd921v9 i loved the scenes in shin godzilla tbh
@@eagenthorror Huh? Those ( too extensive) meetings didn't get to you?
i love the soundtrack and darker feel of this movie. definitely in my top 10 or 5 even
I absolutely agree. The little tinkling of piano keys, the moody tone, and the sense of doom it confers is just amazing.
I think its by Christopher Young... same composer who did the 1st few Hellraiser's.
Same for sure
@@ericpedregon1840 it’s by reijiro koroku
My absolute favorite. The terror theme of the film is how I would expect a Godzilla encounter to go. Then the heartbreaking death of Godzilla in the volcano followed by the narration of Raymond Burr just brings a tear to my eye.
The Raymond Burr narration happens only in Godzilla 85. In the Return of Godzilla /84. You get a the Goodbye Godzilla song.
And thankfully godzilla doesn't die he gets trapped but he dies in 1996 in godzilla vs destoroyah that was released in 1995
He doesn't die. He is imprisoned as the direct sequel shows him escaping
0:07 That roar still terrifies me to this day
I cried at the volcano scene
No shit Sherlock. We all did
@@rickyrackey7930 shut the fuck up
I really like Godzilla's design in 1984 film. Godzilla backs protrayed as destructive force of nature without any malicious intent.
His face is a bit too mammalian for my taste.
He felt kinda malicious in the movie, it felt like he was hunting the two characters
@@MacJWitDaCheese hunting who???
@@treystephens6166 in the English dub off 1985 they gave the impression that he was following the main cast in Tokyo right after he beat super x, but I just watched the original 1984 version and my previous statement definitely wasn't the case in that version lol but 1985 English dub kinda does
@@MacJWitDaCheese oh, I see what you mean. That was a great editing job!
Big spiritual shout out to my middle school librarian for letting me rent this movie for the weekend once I found it in the video storage office haha. It may have been the American cut but freshly discovered Godzilla movies warms hearts either way.
Such an underrated movie it's one of the best.
@@alexyoutubechannel8175 very true
@@alexyoutubechannel8175 The story line to the Return of Godzilla makes more sense then the story line of KOTM. I don't understand your point of view in regards to KOTM?
@@alexyoutubechannel8175 The Return of Godzilla is one of my favorites. I simply just didn't understand your comment about it being as underated as KOTM? Being underated doesn't really apply for as I noticed how the movie has gained appreciation and popularity since being released from Kracken.
@@ktapreswreckd921v9 I respect your opinion but I personally think this movie is overrated I still like it by I dont think this film is worthy of top 15 or top 10
I agree, this one is one of my top favorites, it’s a classic.
YES!
Klayton Fioriti.
You’re a Jurassic park youtuber not a godzilla one so back away!
@@doopnamnam4275
Wow
Rude
@@migsyh2065 relax i was only taking the piss
When you kill one god only for an even stronger one to appear.
Also the first Godzilla movie i ever watched. This version of his roar remains my fav.
0:54
Everyone else is yelling for they're lives except for one guy who is smiling 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
He's some sort of celebrity in real life, always felt that was weird
This IMO is the *PERFECT* Godzilla movie. The plot, the special-effects for the time were good, the suit, the acting, the musical-score, the tone, the dialogue, and that f'n ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!
The best Godzilla movie ever
Such a haunting film, definitely my 4th or 5th favorite
When Godzilla's return was announced. I felt the fear the characters did.
This was my favorite Godzilla movie. Got the one with Raymond Burr.
I still mainly remember watching Godzilla 1985. The craziest thing I realized in comparing that to Godzilla returns is the whole scene with Russian launch control ship parked in Tokyo bay. In the 1985 version they made it look like the guy was trying to send the launch command before he died. But in the original version he was trying to stop the launch but died before he could send the order.
And just like in the fifties Raymond Burr was there to help the American audience understand it better.
My all time favorite Godzilla film, I doubt that will ever change, I upsets me how underappreciated this movie is.
First one I remember seeing. The way the movie was filmed impressed me even when I was a little kid. Probably has my favorite ending as well. The scene were the lighting wakes me up always gave me chills.
This is one on my top 5. It scared me as a child but i absolutely loved watching it. I love how it has its own music and the music was never used again. The roar is so deep and full of fear. Just a great film
I've always loved this film. I remember watching it on VHS as a kid continuously...until it got ruined. Anyways, another great review! Get wait for the next entry.
This is when I fell in love with Big G... I remember when I saw the poster and the inflatable toy at a video near my house... I always wanted one! Althought my 1st movie was Godzilla vs Megalon this was when I first knew about it
this movie stands out because its good even with out the monster action
My first Godzilla film. I have fond memories of this monster adventure and, despite its critical flaws, it remains one of my favorites. Nice video and channel! Subscribed.
Great review to my favorite movie in the franchise. This is the movie (well technically Godzilla 1985 is) that introduced me to the character via movie trailer. It's also the first Godzilla movie I saw in theaters thanks to my uncle taking 4 year old me to see it.
This was my first Godzilla movie; my grandparents rented it on video for me when I was a wee lad.
It was my second. Godzilla vs megalon was actually my first haha
See, THIS is how a realistic Godzilla movie is done.
Godzilla out right a demon in this film
0:56
One guy doesn't think that!!!!!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Godzilla 1984 is by far the most underrated Godzilla. I consider it to be a milestone for this franchise. If you were to make a Godzilla movie that has a Godzilla specific, than Godzilla 1984 would have to be one of those movies you should get inspired from.
I always prefer solo Godzilla movies.
All 2 of them?
@@sebastienvondoom8615 they are three
4 if you count ‘98
@@austinames9340 that doesn't count
@@pavlosrousiamanis Lol. But true.
My favorite Godzilla movie! Great review
I don't know why, but while watching this movie, I got thirsty for Dr. Pepper.
the first time I saw this movie was when I was six in my dads car watching it
This was the first Godzilla movie I watched as a kid and I absolutely loved it. A friend of mine had it recorded on VHS and we watched it many many times. Good times :)
Why do people hate this seriously though I had seen this 2 weeks ago I thought it was amazing
There are people who hate this movie? Why?
People don’t hate the ‘84 film itself. They hate for how it was altered for American audiences, consumed with over the top Dr. Pepper marketing, and that the film was criticized for being UNLIKE the child friendly films. Most can agree The Return of Godzilla is extremely well done and holds up relatively well while Godzilla 1985 is a disgrace to the film’s intentions.
@@art_christiancahalan Well said. Not to mention how in Godzilla 85. The movie had the Russians intentionally fire the nuke. That's was just plain dirty.
@@ktapreswreckd921v9 And at Tokyo. In the real version, the missile is aimed at Godzilla.
@@connorbrennan4233 Right. And the Soviet convoy guy ,admirably tried to stop the missle. I don't even watch 1985 anymore. Only in it's original form.
I remember crying when they killed godzilla in the end...as a kid godzilla was my favorite monster and seeing him in that pit dying is seared into my brain lol
To be honest, I've never been a big fan of this Godzilla design like everyone else. This Godzilla looks kinda off to me, it still has that showa vibe to it and it just comes off as silly. I prefer the menacing reptilian design of the millennium Godzilla over this, Though that's just me.
If you're talking about the overall Heisei design, I disagree, but if you're talking about this movie in particular I have to agree. It looks fake for lack of a better term. Like a comedic version of the uncanny valley. It's so close to being intimidating, but then it falls just short and becomes goofy as hell.
@@Thumbdumpandthebumpchump I was referring to the 1984 design specifically. The 1989 and 1990s design looks so better. Although the roars got worse, they should have kept the 1984/89 roar, that roar was badass.
The Heisei Godzilla design from 1989-1995 was the absolute best Godzilla has ever looked. It’s a real shame that the 84 suit kind of stands as a good idea of what the film feels like to me: an awkward transitional film between the Showa and Heisei eras. Godzilla stands tall and menacing, but his proportions look off, and his face feels too Showa-esque. His snout is too short and his eyes look too rounded and cartoony, like the Showa designs before him. Also, he has a lot of bad cases of derp face throughout this movie that don’t exactly help him look any better.
I think I'm the only person who likes this design more than any before or after, lol maybe it's just nostalgia. I do like the shin Godzilla design almost equally though.
I don't mind the design but yeah it's kinda off for me. I mean this is one of my favorite Godzilla movies mind you. I think Biollante got the Heisei design down perfectly with only needing a few tweaks here and there. Especially when this shoot looks crosseyed in some shots like when the Super X was taking off for the final battle and Godzilla is watching it.
I bought this movie for $80 in 1986. Worth every penny...
Super fascinating!
The scene between Godzilla and the Ihama Nuclear Power plant technician is one of the best ever with a Godzilla/person interaction. The way it was filmed was perfect.
Reijiro Koroku's score is the best character in this movie
The American version (Godzilla 1985) and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla were the first two Godzilla movies I ever saw. Nearly 30 years later, I’m still a fan!
I love Akira Ifukube, but Reijiro Koroku's score for this film was such a breath of fresh air. Even though he didn't return for Biollante, Koichi Sugiyama's score for that felt like a nice extension of this score.
Easily my favorite Godzilla movie after the original 1954 film. It's almost flawless in its execution, especially with its inclusion of the Cold War. But if there is just one nitpick, it's the sea louse in the beginning. We only see one throughout the film when the Big G should have hundreds of them all over his body; and quite frankly, they should've been more of a threat to the Tokyo population than the Big G himself.
Other than that, The Return of Godzilla is nothing short of a masterpiece. Even the poster is the best Godzilla poster ever designed.
Great review. I've never seen a Heisei era movie but you convinced me to make this one my first!
Spot on review! while it's kind of goofy in places ,the american in the war room and the tank driver immediately come to mind! But while it does have it's flaws, it was definitely a return to form!
One of my favorite Godzilla films.
Keep these up! They are fantastic and I am VERY excited we are getting into the Heisei era.
Return of Godzilla 1984 is 1 of my favourite Godzilla movies
When Legendary (or maybe Gareth Edwards) was hyping up their Godzilla film to be darker and for G to be a menacing force of nature, I had really hoped they would follow in this movie's footsteps. Somehow the darkest, most haunting of the Godzilla movies.
Having just watched this after seeing Shin Godzilla a few weeks ago, it's crazy how much Shin Godzilla was inspired by this movie; the introduction of characters' names via subtitles and having a Goro Maki as well are just the main things, but there's a lot of political discussion about the morality of using nukes against Godzilla as well.
Just saw this movie for the first time today and I can't believe Ive never made an attempt before.
I grew up watching the 90's series over and over on VHS and I didn't hear about this movie until I was a little old. But by then, I never gave it much thought. Sure am kick myself now, though. lol
It a phenomenal Godzilla movie. I think it's close to being a masterpiece even.
first one I saw and still maybe my favorite. Great review.
Remember renting this from hollywood video, and failing to return the cover art when we returned the tape. Super cool cover
何故か看板に
ゴーストバスターズが
出てました🎵
I grew up with Godzilla being one of the coolest things to go see at the theater. And I Agree with the majority of the comments here as well as the video. THIS Restored my faith that NO ONE or NOTHING can stop or kill the Mighty Godzilla. Whom is truly an unstoppable Force of nature. And even if one does fall. He returns later. Smarter, More destructive and more unstoppable then the previous monster. The design and the looks are Perfect. More menacing, More terrifying. Then any of the previous creatures. I LOVED Monster Wars it showed That GODZILLA is Truly The KING of All Monsters. 2014 was pretty bad ass too. It portraited the evolution of the Godzilla Creature as that one was an Aging but still Very Deadly Monster even against the MUTOs. So the Next one should be quite something to see.
Just watched it today for the first time, awesome movie. The end theme was amazing!
I'll never forget the good old days of going to my local video store with my Dad, & always picking this movie up. In fact I even got a little kid to watch this movie a few years ago, & he instantly wanted to see more Godzilla movies(and yes his family took him to see KOTM).
I thought I would be bored
But I got hooked all the way
0:00 me when I see my worst enemy after 2 years
Deep
This was the first time I saw a Godzilla movie...my mom took me to the movies to see it... one of the few memories I have of her
Definitely one of my Top Ten Favorite Godzilla films, hopefully the Criterion Collection will do a reissue of the entire Heisei Era as they did the Showa Era!
I thought that this was a great follow to the original, except for the ending. I just can't accept how clumsily Godzilla met his end(?). "Ooo... birdies! Whoops, I fell into a volcano..."
This is my second favorite Godzilla film of all time, the first being G vs King Ghidorah. I like The Return of Godzilla (specifically the 1985 ending) bc...well...
...the scream at the end, oddly enough. I'm surprised you didn't cover that scream, it haunts me in my dreams even today. They captured all the pain of a damned soul in that sound.
Love this movie though, for that and all the reasons you listed.
That's because there was no scream in the Japanese version, which is the version I watched. The addition of the scream is one of the positive changes made to the American cut.
@@UpFromTheDepths88 Ah, thanks for the clarification. If they could splice that scream into the Japanese original version, the movie would pretty much be perfect... :(
This is also my favorite of the Toho produced movies
When I was a kid, this movie left me absolutely sobbing because I thought it was the end of Godzilla for real. I was just inconsolable in tears at the final scene. Even now it's still incredibly emotional. I think this one's due for a re-watch honestly. Then I can pivot right to vs .Biollante and vs. King Ghidorah which are two of my other favs.
This movie along with biolannte and vs mothra 1964 are my favorite Godzilla movies
happy 40th anniversary return of godzilla!!!(love that intro showing godzilla was back.:3)
would say it'd darker with the deaths that happen(with godzilla burning people onscreen/the hobo dying from his attack destroying a building,the train attack & almost causing a world war that the heroic russian ship captain dying trying to prevent it only to accidentally power godzilla/even the big g's sea lice being kaiju facehuggers.) though love it showed godzilla is an animal that looking back only causes his rampage out of confusion mostly roaming not destroying much like a bear or lion/justifiable anger being attacked by the super x wanting revenge(also being dropped into a volcano with how terrified he sounded that even the humans felt sorry for him knowing it was them who caused it)& the prime minister being a visually compelling character to a strong start to the heisei era.(wish we saw him in future heisei films befriending miki.)
This movie takes my hair off in my body a scary one if you are one of tge extras in this movie...
Excellent review! 👍🎬😎
This was the first Godzilla film I ever watched and still my favorite. Well technically it was 1985, I didn't actually get to see the unaltered original until about a year ago. Which is now my favorite though the Americanized version still has a special place for being the movie that introduced me to Godzilla. Makes me feel kind of old to say I watched this on RCA's CED format but I did. It was years until I could buy the VHS. And decades until I could obtain the original on Blu-ray.
This was the first Godzilla movie that I saw in a theater. I totally loved it. Even though he had a few bit parts in the movie, It was really good to see the late Raymond Burr as well.
At 4:07 the special effects on display is actually reused footage from 10 years prior
Goro Maki, I remember that name from the new "Shin Gojira"...
But he's a villain of sort there, isn't he?
A villain?
Idk
He never felt like one to me
The first time I seen this movie I felled in love Godzilla.
This is one of my favorite Godzilla’s movies from the 80s and I like Mechagodzilla from 1974 and 1975
My favorite Godzilla movie 1985
One of the greatest Godzilla films ever made.
So far this is still my top Godzilla film.
I can’t wait until 30 years from now when they make the next solo godzilla film. They have all been great
For me, this one and vs. Biollante are one long awesome movie. Great review of one of my G-Movies!
When he fell into the volcano it scared the shit out of me as a kid
i totally agree. this movie is one of the best. in fact its the only one i can re watch that has Gojira by himself in it
I do wish we got Godzilla 1985 on DVD since I think it really does do some scenes MUCH better. The sea louse attack is shorter and scarier, the Russian submarine destruction is tighter, some effects are different but just as good. Like I while I love seeing people scrambling around as Godzilla fights the Super X I also love how Tokyo feels like a ghost town around Godzilla in 1985. Plus I appreciate Raymond Burr wanting to take the film seriously and his closing monologue is great.
My first Godzilla film ^^
Ever seen Submersion of Japan or Prophecies of Nostradamus? This movie owes its entire tone and existence to those movies. Keiju Kobayashi was great in the former
Fun fact you know the roar he did at the beginning of the video was my favorite hei sei roar
3:50
新宿副都心での陸自特車隊のHPR車によるゴジラ誘導作戦の場面、
その後、平成シリーズのVSビオのOPに流用しました🎵
Can someone tell me where to watch this movie? I don’t know where I can watch this or the 1985 cut
I bought this on VHS at a comic book convention and really enjoyed it. I still haven't seen Godzilla 1985 though.
Finally found a way to watch this and other Heisei era films and I can't wait
Godzilla's human eyes in this film is what used to terrify me as a child.
Everything must people see in Shin Godzilla, i saw it in this movie and even more, a Godzilla with a true personality and characters that at least have something behind them and aren't just there to spitout the mensage and themes of the movie.
I’ve never this film yet, but this review convinced me to watch it now, thank you! 😃
I have the same story as many, I saw this after a rental at my local video store and I fell in love with Godzilla! Being born in 1985 I felt a connection with this film as in the US the title of the film was Godzilla 1985, fitting for my first Godzilla movie. Have loved Godzilla ever since! Love Godzilla's design too, I only wish this design would have been used to a greater influence for the new Godzilla's designs.