THE RETURN OF GODZILLA (1984): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 17

THE RETURN OF GODZILLA  (1984)

aka. Godzilla
aka. Godzilla 1985

The legend is reborn. 

After a nine-year hibernation, Godzilla returns to the big screen in both Japan and America for a much-hyped reboot of the Godzilla franchise. Presented as a direct sequel to the original Gojira (disregarding every other Godzilla film after 1954), The Return of Godzilla aimed to take the King of the Monsters back to his dark anti-nuclear origins. The Return of Godzilla may not have been the international box office smash Toho was hoping for, but it did well enough to launch a brilliant series of Japanese films in the 90s that have yet to be rivaled. More importantly, it made Godzilla scary again.

TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (1975): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 16

TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA  (1975)

aka. Terror of Godzilla

Here we are folks. We've truly reached the end of an era. Godzilla returns to once again fight his diabolical doppleganger Mechagodzilla, but this is the last time we'll see this particular version of Godzilla. Terror of Mechagodzilla is the 15th and final film in the original series, and it all comes full circle with Ishiro Honda, the original Gojira director, returning to take Godzilla movies back to their darker roots.

GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (1974): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 15

GODZILLA vs. MECHAGODZILLA (1974)

aka. Godzilla vs. Bionic Monster
aka. Godzilla vs. Cosmic Monster

Evil apes from outer space attempt to conquer Earth with a robotic Godzilla in accordance with an ancient apocalyptic prophecy. But could the terrifying Godzilla cyborg be too powerful for even the real King of the Monsters to defeat? Godzilla kicks off his 20th Anniversary with the surprisingly entertaining Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.

GODZILLA vs. MEGALON (1973): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 14

GODZILLA vs. MEGALON (1973)

You know the Godzilla series is seriously on the ropes when the King of the Monsters is reduced to a co-starring role in his own movie. Giving last week's Godzilla vs. Gigan a run for its money as worst Godzilla film, Godzilla vs Megalon was released in 1973 in which Godzilla plays second string to the first and last appearance of the robot Jet Jaguar.

GODZILLA VS. GIGAN (1972): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 13

GODZILLA vs. GIGAN (1972)

aka. Godzilla on Monster Island

Do you hear that big wet fart noise? Yup, that means it's time to talk about Godzilla vs. Gigan, a real lackluster Godzilla movie if there ever was one. Recycling plots and stock footage from better, more successful movies in the franchise, Godzilla vs. Gigan's only real redeeming factor is the introduction of the bizarre cyborg space monster Gigan.