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Godzilla - Heisei Collection
The character of
Godzilla has been a staple of Japanese cinema for over fifty years.
Since the emergence of Ishiro Honda’s landmark 1954 effort Gojira,
no less than 27 sequels have followed. Accounting for a quarter of this
output are the films made between 1984 and 1995, known colloquially
amongst Western audiences as the ‘Heisei Series’ after the ruling
emperor of the period.
The Heisei portion of
the series began with The Return of Godzilla, a direct sequel to
Gojira that ignored any subsequent plot developments in favour of
its own noticeably darker vision. Conspicuously absent from the present
box set are this important feature and its follow-up, 1989s Godzilla
vs. Biollante. Instead, Madman have included the five films made in
quick succession between 1991 and 1995, namely:
- Godzilla vs. King
Ghidorah
- Godzilla vs. Mothra
- Godzilla vs.
Mechagodzilla II
- Godzilla vs.
Spacegodzilla
- Godzilla vs.
Destroyah
Though they vary
somewhat in quality and their rushed production values are occasionally
evident, each of the five films in this collection are solid, and
several are considered amongst the strongest in the franchise’s entire
28-film canon. The numerous battle sequences are cleverly staged, and
Godzilla is depicted as a substantially more menacing creature than in
the lead-up to the Heisei-era films.
The continual threat of
destruction thus features as a prominent plot device, which is more than
apt given that the title character is a gigantic freakin’ monster. The
special effects and bluescreen work are quite dated, though the B-movie
atmosphere this engenders isn’t entirely incongruous with the subject
matter, and lends an air of slightly camp, retro fun to the
proceedings.
Overall this is a
worthwhile box set, but one containing a number of fatal flaws, not
least among them the absence of the first two films in the series. As
the story arc was designed to be continuous and consistent throughout
the Heisei-era films, this is a glaring omission. At any rate the
five-disc set is satisfyingly substantial, and casual viewers of the
Godzilla films and their ilk will doubtless feel the $50 price tag is
warranted. Completists and more ardent fans, however, may wish to look
elsewhere for the Heisei-era collection in its entirety.
Special Features
Original Trailers
Stills Gallery
Poster Gallery
Godzilla Trivia |
