Hitchcock would have admired the no-nonsense progression of this movie. There's no stuffing around with unnecessary sub-plots or boring character histories basically what we want to hear about is Godzilla.

This is from the modern series of Godzilla redoes. The original was 1955, and millions of camp sequels followed in the 60's - and now these latest movies in the 90's. So this looks like a modern movie - with modern technology available, yet they've retained the puppet-like Godzilla. Many have complained at how fake it looks - but considering all the other self-reference, they've definitely done it one purpose. Why do Godzilla computer animated when the vintage puppet Godzilla is so fun!

There's nothing better than a camp movie that knows its camp - this is very fun stuff. For example, the obvious parody of American sci-fi flicks: we see two US soldiers discussing casually how they'll take over the island they've just discovered "yes, the stars and stripes will fly here too." And they see our heroes flying in on their time machine/ufo and think its a space ship (which it is). One says to the other: "Let's just keep this secret. You can tell your son about it, when he's born, Major Spielberg." The slickness of the entertainment actually is the best homage to Spielberg here. These are the kinds of movies Spielberg makes, and the kind of movies we all used to love when we were kids. Good on them, I say.

There is plenty of sci-fi action: UFOs, time machines and futuristic creatures. There are also references to American war movies in the war-like sequences with US troops fighting Godzilla on the Bikini Atoll (or whatever atoll it is - one famous for Nuclear testing). There's adventure, also: the troupe going back in a time machine to 1954 to try and wipe Godzilla from existence is a very exciting adventure premise.

7/10. Thoroughly recommended entertainment.

With Godzilla films, or any other giant monster on the rampage type film, there is a certain level of suspension of disbelief required... but even in the realm of Godzilla where everything from numerous alien invasions, giant robots, and telepathic twin fairies are possible this movie STILL pushed the limits of believability.

So apparently, Japan in World War 2 was in the habit of hiring soldiers in their 50's and 60's who would not age a day in the next 47 years? Buy some make-up, people! This is the first Godzilla movie to deal heavily with time travel, which can be cool if handled well (BACK TO THE FUTURE) but if handled badly (TIMECOP) can quickly get convoluted and messy, or like this film make no sense at all. It doesn't help that several science fiction elements are jumbled together, complete with androids, flying saucers, biogenetically engineered pets who mutate into Godzilla's biggest foe, etc.

After the groundbreaking work on 1985 and BIOLLANTE, the special effects work here is definitely a mixed bag with lots of good pyrotechnics and miniature skylines that look almost real, but some poor model photography, frequently out of focus. The acting from the non-Japanese cast members (like the bad guys and the US servicemen in the world war 2 flashback) is dire, and for some reason baby Godzilla sounds like Rodan (or Gamera when he gets hurt). I have a feeling Sony/Columbia/Tristar dubbed the Heisei series badly on purpose just to make their GODZILLA 98 movie look better in comparison.

The English dubbing here is ATROCIOUS (even worse than GODZILLA 2000) with such instances as when a fighter pilot shrieks "I'm.... I'm spinning!" when he rolls his plane away from Ghidorah (in an otherwise neat aerial battle)... or the famous bit where the navy guy yells "Take that, you dinosaur!" while his soldiers on the beach are yelling "Keep firing! What is this thing? Keep firing!". It's almost like 6 year olds wrote the English language translation. Also, while the monster effects are neat, the android running scenes are just laughable... like something Ed Wood would do.

However, I can't completely dismiss this mess of a film as it has plentiful and good scenes of city destruction and monster battles, complete with lots of good explosions, editing, and best-of-all, Akira Ifukube returns as composer with one of his best scores up to that point. It's also neat to see a few familiar Godzilla movie faces, such as Kenji Sahara and Katsuhiko Sasaki, and fortunately the psychic woman from BIOLLANTE is barely in it, making me wonder why she was even cast at all. She singlehandedly ruined the Heisei series, as psychics and Godzilla totally don't mix. This was all much better back in the early 60's when the effects were worse but the scripts were simpler.

I think this is one of the best Godzilla movies made. Godzilla's origins are finally revealed in this film: a prehistoric dinosaur, dubbed Godzillasaurus, helps a Japanese army defeat their opponents during World War II in 1944 and, 10 years later, mutates into Godzilla after an H-bomb explodes on the island. 47 years later, 3 people from the future called Futurians warn the people of Japan that Godzilla would soon destroy their country completely. So, they decided to bring along three advisers to go back in time to 1944 with them and help tele-port Godzillasaurus away from Lagos Island and into the Bering Sea so he won't get mutated by the bomb. Pretty clever. *maybe a spoiler ahead* However, the Futurians unleash three Dorats (dragon-like creatures) to be exposed by the H-bomb, so 47 years later in 1991, it could mutate in the new-improved King Ghidorah. They plan to use this monster to destroy Japan to prevent the country's future domination. On getting rid of Godzilla, there's nothing powerful enough to stop King Ghidorah.

Yet, the Godzillasaurus was mutated into a new-improved (and larger) Godzilla after a Russian nuclear submarine crashed into it in the Bering Sea. Soon, the two monsters meet and...you let the idea now. It's a fast-paced and pretty good story, although there are some plot holes. Miki Saegusa returns, played a very active role in this film. My favorite part of her in the movie is when she stood on a balcony of her psychic institute and watches, dazed, at the UFO soar across the sky. Also, what's good is the return of composer Akira Ifukube, who wrote a very moving and inspiring score for this film. Some of his music maybe repeated excessively, but it is still enjoyable. One key part of this story is when the character Shindo recognizes Godzilla as the same dinosaur who saved his army on Lagos Island in 1944. When Godzilla arrives to battle King Ghidorah he says: "He'll fight for us again, our savior has come back to protect us." This reminds me of how Godzilla was the "hero" in the 1960s and 1970s Godzilla films. This movie is a must-see for G-Fans.

Grade A