GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA (2002): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 28

GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA (2002)

Mechagodzilla gets a much-needed upgrade for the new Millennium in a brand new story continuity that, oddly enough, is also a direct sequel to Toho's classic monster movies Gojira (1954), Mothra (1961) War of the Gargantuas (1966), and Space Amoeba (1970).

GODZILLA, MOTHRA, AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK (2001): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 27

GODZILLA, MOTHRA, & KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK (2001)

It's a monster movie so big and so crazy they can't even fit all the monsters in the title! Following the previous year's disappointing returns on Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, Toho decided to go back to the monster vault and bring back not one - not two - but three of its classic monsters to battle Godzilla, but this time Godzilla's not the hero. In fact, he's your worst nightmare.

GODZILLA vs. MEGAGUIRUS (2000): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 26

GODZILLA vs. MEGAGUIRUS (2000)

Godzilla's had problems with moths before, but this time around he has another infestation to deal with. The King of the Monsters must contend with a swarm of giant prehistoric dragonflies that want to drain his energy. At the same time, those pesky humans are trying to blast his ass into an artificial black hole. It's all in the life of a Godzilla as documented in this so-so second installment of the Millennium series.

GODZILLA 2000 (1999): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 25

GODZILLA 2000 (1999)

aka. Godzilla 2000: Millennium 

Disappointed and offended by the indignity their most iconic character faced in America at the hands of director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin the year prior, Toho quickly brought Godzilla out of retirement with a badass new look for a brand new series. In December of 1999, Toho ushered in a new millennium with GODZILLA 2000.

GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH (1995): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 23

GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH (1995)

Today, for the first time since 1954, Godzilla dies. Get out your tissues, G-fans, this one's a tearjerker. Not only does Godzilla vs. Destoroyah bring the Heisei series to an close with the destruction of Godzilla, but Godzilla's fate is directly linked to that of the original Godzilla in 1954, bringing the franchise full circle.

GODZILLA vs. SPACE GODZILLA (1994): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 22

GODZILLA VS. SPACE GODZILLA (1994)

In the otherwise classic Heisei series, Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla is a rare, forgettable entry that smacks of cheapness. In it, Godzilla and Little Godzilla face an evil clone of Godzilla from space! Trust me, it sounds better than it is.

GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA (1992): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 20

GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA:
Battle for Earth (1992)

One of Toho's most popular monsters, Mothra, gets a modern update and an upgrade to her mythology with the introduction of her destructive counterpart Battra. It's a three-way monster battle for the fate of the planet in Godzilla vs. Mothra.

GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH (1991): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 19

GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH  (1991)

Classic Godzilla foe King Ghidorah gets a modern update in this sequel to Godzilla vs. Biollante which features a trifecta of sci-fi awesomeness: monsters, time travel, and cyborgs.

GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE (1989): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 18

GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE  (1989)

Often overlooked because of its obscurity, Godzilla vs. Biollante is one of the freshest, most imaginative, and most technically advanced Godzilla films to emerge in over 20 years. Set directly after the events of The Return of Godzilla, the King of the Monsters returns with a jaw-dropping new look to battle one of his strangest enemies ever.

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.

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.

GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH (1971): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 12

GODZILLA vs. HEDORAH (1971)

aka. Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster

If you thought movies in which men in big rubber monster suits wrestle on miniature sets were bizarre by definition, prepare to have your definition of "bizarre" blown wide open. In the early 1970s, Toho released one of the strangest Godzilla movies to see the light of day: GODZILLA vs. HEDORAH. Whether fans hate it or love it, they usually point to the same reason: it's just so damn weird.

ALL MONSTERS ATTACK (1969): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY 11

ALL MONSTERS 
ATTACK (1969)

aka. Godzilla's Revenge

All Monsters Attack is largely considered within fan circles to be one of the worst Godzilla movies ever made. But is that being too harsh?

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.

SON OF GODZILLA (1967): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY NINE

SON OF GODZILLA (1967)

aka. Monster Island's Decisive Battle: Godzilla's Son

Ever wanted to see Godzilla as a daddy? How about as a deadbeat father who abandons and abuses his children? Well, then you're in luck. Today we look into one of the darkest chapters of Godzilla lore. The insufferable, the grotesque, and the infinitely laughable SON OF GODZILLA.

GODZILLA vs. THE SEA MONSTER (1966): 30 Days of Godzilla

DAY EIGHT

GODZILLA vs. THE SEA MONSTER (1966)

aka. Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
aka. Godzilla, Ebirah, Mothra: Big Duel in the South Seas

Even the King of the Monsters needs a vacation. Tired of the hustle and grind that comes with destroying major Japanese landmarks, Godzilla decides to catch some R&R on a secluded tropical island with an all-you-can-beat lobster buffet and plenty of cute island babes in bikinis. Oh, and there's international terrorism. And slavery. And Mothra? Yeah...that's Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster for you.

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.