Review: Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (2003)

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Having watched Godzilla: Tokyo SOS, I really don’t believe that I can possibly watch another Godzilla film, and it’s not because it’s a bad film. Quite the opposite, in fact. I just can’t stand the thought of disappointment from any of the other Godzilla titles that I am yet to watch.

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes Tokyo SOS such a fantastic Godzilla film. However, I must point out that when I say ‘fantastic’, I am making a judgement based upon the rest of the Godzilla series. For the most part, a Godzilla film cannot really be compared to any other kind of film. You either love Godzilla or you hate him. Thus when we examine as to why Tokyo SOS is so good, it’s best to compare it with a couple of other Godzilla films.

The last two Godzilla I had the fortune and misfortune to watch, were Godzilla: Final Wars and Godzilla vs Megalon respectively. When compared to Godzilla vs Megalon, Tokyo SOS is in a league of its own. It is just that much better in every possible way. To begin with the plot is sound with great pacing, ensuring that there are very few slow moments. This is helped greatly by a cast that, for a change, isn’t woefully average. What makes the story behind Tokyo SOS better is that there is very little assumed knowledge of the Godzilla canon. Everything is explained clearly using snippets from previous films. This has the effect of making the film both enjoyable to fans and highly accessible to those wanting to know what Godzilla is all about.

However, for the fans, the biggest factor when determining the quality of a Godzilla film is the number and quality of the fight scenes. In this area, Tokyo SOS doesn’t disappoint. Whilst not having the same number of battles as the outstanding Godzilla: Final Wars, Tokyo SOS makes up for it with fight scenes that are longer and involve vast qualities of miniature buildings to destroy. As for the for the fight scenes in Godzilla vs Megalon, there is almost no comparison that can be made. The monsters, including Godzilla look far more realistic and much less like a man in a rubber suit (or a model held up with wires). This combined with suitable special effects leads to a spectacular looking film.

Overall, I was quite literally blown away by the quality of Godzilla: Tokyo SOS. Whilst I was expecting a film of similar quality to that of Godzilla vs Megalon, I was pleasantly surprised to find its quality closer to that of Godzilla: Final Wars. What’s more I feel that it’s possibly the best introductory Godzilla film out of the series (barring the original 1954 version of course). Although, after Godzilla: Tokyo SOS, most other Godzilla films may seem to be a disappointment.

9 Godzilla breath attacks out of 10.
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