GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (2004): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 30

GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (2004)

Go big or go home. 

That must have been director Ryuhei Kitamura's mantra when he signed on to direct the final film in the Millennium Series and, until this year, the last Godzilla film to be released in a decade. Featuring a record-holding 14 different monsters, nonstop John Woo / The Matrix-inspired action sequences, and a slate of classic Godzilla actor cameos, Godzilla: Final Wars is one of the most divisive films in the franchise. Released for Godzilla's 50th Anniversary, it may not have been the perfect Godzilla film so many fans were hoping for, but it's still one of the most fun and exciting films to bear the name "Godzilla."

GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA II (1993): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 21

GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA II (1993)

Rodan, Mechagodzilla, and even Baby Godzilla are all given a modern revamp in this blockbuster of sci-fi action and monster mayhem. Not without story problems, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II set a high-water mark for Toho's technical special effects and monster suit design in the Heisei period.

DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY TEN

DESTROY ALL 
MONSTERS (1968)

aka. Charge of the Monsters

It's The Avengers of Japanese monster movies! It's the House of Frankenstein of rubber suit monster mayhem. Filling the frame with kaiju, it's Destroy All Monsters! Considered by many as a classic installment in the Godzilla series, Destroy All Monsters is a celebration of Toho's tokusatsu history and also a farewell to the golden age of Japanese monster movies.

INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER (1965): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY SEVEN

INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER (1965)

aka. Monster Zero
aka. Great Monster War
aka. Godzilla vs. Monster Zero

Space. The final frontier. These are the adventures of the kaiju Godzilla. His 60-year mission: to beat the ever-loving hell out of giant rubber monsters. To boldly go where no giant radioactive lizard has gone before. Today, Godzilla goes into outerspace for the campy and colourful romp: INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER!

GHIDORAH, THE THREE HEADED MONSTER (1964): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY SIX

GHIDORAH, THE THREE HEADED MONSTER (1964)

aka. Three Giant Monsters: Earth's Greatest Battle

aka. Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster

Aside from introducing one of Godzilla's classic enemies, Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster is held up alongside Mothra vs. Godzilla as one of the best kaiju movies of the Showa series. At the same time, it is decried by many adult Godzilla fans. You see, Ghidorah heralded a monumental and culture-shifting transformation that many Godzilla purists are still not happy about. For 30 years following Ghidorah, Godzilla would be firmly and unequivocally depicted not as monster but as a kid-friendly hero. And it all started right here.