Gojira (Godzilla 1985: The Legend Is Reborn) (1984)

13% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
37% want to see it
(4,058 ratings)

Nearly ten years after his last screen appearance (in 1975's Terror of Mechagodzilla), the Tokyo Terror stomps again -- albeit awkwardly -- in Toho Studios' highly publicized bid to reestablish the Green Guy's popularity in Japan and overseas. More a remake of the 1956 classic Godzilla, King of the… More Nearly ten years after his last screen appearance (in 1975's Terror of Mechagodzilla), the Tokyo Terror stomps again -- albeit awkwardly -- in Toho Studios' highly publicized bid to reestablish the Green Guy's popularity in Japan and overseas. More a remake of the 1956 classic Godzilla, King of the Monsters than a continuation of the series, Godzilla 1985 represents an attempt to revamp the Big G with Star Wars movie technology and a more "serious" approach. Unfortunately, Toho's efforts may have gone astray, since the film resorts to exactly the same cheesy conventions that had endeared the series to bad-movie buffs around the world: flimsy cardboard buildings, inconsistencies in the monster's size from one scene to the next, and the same mock-profound commentary from Raymond Burr. The only notable additions consist of some interference from those evil superpowers, America and the Soviet Union, who both want to nuke Godzilla before he decides to direct his rage somewhere other than Japan. Though the film did manage to jump-start the franchise, spawning several high-tech sequels (continuing with Godzilla vs. Biollante and 1995's Godzilla vs. The Destroyer), its cheesiness spelled certain doom for the series in overseas markets, with minimal legitimate U.S. distribution until their arrival on video amid advance hype for Sony-TriStar's mega-budgeted 1998 version. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Koji Hashimoto, R. J. Kizer
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Critic Reviews

James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Stick with the originals instead
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Nah, he only seem that old.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

I saw the original Japanese version. It was fantastic. This is a reboot to the dark and destructive ways of Godzilla. Sure, I enjoyed the time spent with aliens, robots, other monsters etc. But it was nice to take it back to basics. In context of the movie, this is the first time… More
I saw the original Japanese version. It was fantastic. This is a reboot to the dark and destructive ways of Godzilla. Sure, I enjoyed the time spent with aliens, robots, other monsters etc. But it was nice to take it back to basics. In context of the movie, this is the first time Godzilla has been spotted since the 1954 original. Here, he is a mistake of the humans, and he's here to smash shit up, not protect it. The film is more reminiscent of disaster movies of the era. The Towering Inferno sprung to mind. The film jumps around from scientists, to the Prime Minister of Japan. We get some hard issues to face, as Japan must argue with Russia and America on whether to use nuclear weapons to destroy Godzilla. The effects are incredible. A new suit brings Godzilla to life once more, plus some shots of a detailed animatronic version. The sets are remarkable in their detail and realism. This feels like Godzilla tearing through buildings, and not just models. If you want to keep your Godzilla films serious and dark, just watch the original and this.
Ken S

So awesome it's ridiculous. Really wish they would release this on DVD
Michael E

This movie disturbed the crap out of me, the action is great in the movie, but it is a forgettable godzilla movie
Steven V

This is a really good Godzilla movie. The Japanese version is actually pretty good, even if some of the Americanized editting is a mix-bag and special-effect hickups.
Christopher B

Great updating of Godzilla and it was good to have him as a bad guy again.

Cast

            Raymond Burr as Steve Martin

            Koji Ishizaka as Member of Power Plant

            Nobuo Kaneko as Home Affairs Minister Isomura

            Takeshi Katô as Internal Trade and Industry Minister Kasa

            Keiju Kobayashi as Prime Minister Mitamura

            Hiroshi Koizumi as Minami Geologist

            Shinsuke Mikimoto as Chief of the General Staff Kakurai

            Kunio Murai as Henmi

            Taketoshi Naito as Chief Cabinet Secretary Takegami

            Yosuke Natsuki as Hayashida Biologist

            Junkichi Orimoto as Director-General of Defense Mohri

            Eitarô Ozawa as Finance Minister Kanzaki

            Kei Sato as Gondo

            Yasuka Sawaguchi as Naoko Okumura

            Mizuho Suzuki as Foreign Minister Kanzaki

            Yoshifumi Tajima as Director-General of Environment Hidaka

            Shin Takuma as Hiroshi Okumura

            Ken Tanaka as Goro Maki Reporter

            Robert J. Kizer
            
            Kiyoshi Tamamoto as Kajita

            Mori Mikita as Director-General of the National Land Agenc

            Shinpei Hayashiya as Kamijo Cameraman

            Takenori Emoto as Kitagawa

            Takeo Morimoto as Newscaster

            Tetsuya Takeda as Tramp
See full cast

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Gojira (Godzilla 1985: The Legend Is Reborn) (1984)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

Ken S

Michael E

Steven V

Christopher B

Cast

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