Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Blu-ray Movie Review

Three heads are better than one.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 1, 2014

Note: 'Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah' is currently only available as part of a two-pack with 'Godzilla vs. Mothra.'

How does one keep Godzilla fresh? How about travel to the past, visits from the future, UFOs, secret political agendas, and underhanded economic manipulation? How about an origins story? Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah doesn't retune formula or stray from the series' roots, but it does offer a nice little jaunt into thematically interesting and canon-critical territory while still maintaining classic Godzilla structure, i.e. the irradiated mega-lizard battling some equally oversized foe in and around Japan. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah sees the return of one of the series' classic villains resurrected for another round of devastation and combat in the midst of a story centered on man's own hunger for power and control, going so far as to rework the past for his present (future) gain.

Do I look ready for my closeup?

UFO sightings are up all over Japan. When the unidentified vehicle lands, three humans -- Wilson (Chuck Wilson), Grenchko (Richard Berger), Emmy Kano (Anna Nakagawa) -- or, rightly, three holograms of humans, appear with a proposal: travel backwards in time to prevent the emergence of Godzilla and save Japan from a disastrous fate. The government agrees to go along with the operation and sends three of its own citizens along with the future visitors: a writer and Godzilla origins expert named Terasawa (Kosuke Toyohara), a dinosaur expert named Mazaki (Katsuhiko Sasaki), and Miki Saegusa (Megumi Odaka), a member of the Paranormal Research Center. The mission appears successful; Godzilla is transported away to another location, but when the time travelers return to the present, they discover that the three-headed monster known as King Ghidorah is devastating Japan. When the truth surrounding the future visitors arrival is revealed, the government is left with no choice but to recreate Godzilla to save the country.

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah follows an interesting angle that pits man against himself in front of the backdrop of yet another massive confrontation between Godzilla and one of his arch-rivals. The story constructs some interesting backstory and origins for the title characters, dating all the way back to World War II and moving forward all the way into the distant future, while also folding a number of geopolitical and economic considerations into the tale. Still, the movie is 100% Godzilla at its core, relishing every moment of destruction, savoring each blow and counter-blow, and wowing the audience with every revelation and each instance of human intervention on the ground. Certainly the film plays with something of a repetitive feel down at its most basic level when compared to other Godzilla films of its time, but it's a satisfying little diversion that's just crazy and convoluted enough to bring a smile to the face and serve as a reminder of all the series does so well.

Basic Godzilla qualities rule the day in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. Monster construction is primitively impressive, not so different than most other films in the series released around this timeframe and within the Heisei universe. It captures a fair sense of scope in the monsters, particularly when contrasted against cities and humans. Special effects -- complete with an abundance of wires, lightning, Godzilla-breath, and bulky future spacecraft, consoles, and guns -- aren't spectacular but prove serviceable, adding a charm that's missing with most of today's seamless but in many ways significantly more phony digital visuals. Acting ranges from acceptable to awful; many performances go far over the top, and most of the American actors from the film's World War II segment are laughably bad (and never mind the terrible "Spielberg" joke). The film finds its strength, however, in its origins story for Godzilla, dating back to nuclear testing and island-hopping battles between Japanese and American soldiers in World War II.

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah's 1080p transfer isn't dynamic and flashy, but it's a serviceable, well-defined image that suits the material well. The image lacks that razor-sharp, lifelike crispness of what most would label "reference" material, but Sony's transfer showcases a solid image with adequate definition, little softness, and good coloring. Detailing proves adequate, with good, basic textures and definition on clothes and faces. Monster visuals reveal a good bit of intimacy, showing the finest ridges and lines on Godzilla's leathery reptilian body. Basic image clarity is strong, and light grain appears throughout. The World War II scenes appear a little more colorfully rich and dynamic but at the same time a touch smoother than the somewhat grittier (then) present day footage. Colors fare well. A bright red jeep and deep grassy greens satisfy, though the palette never exhibits much of a flashy, realistic tone. Black levels are fine, and flesh tones don't stray too far from natural shades. Minute blockiness creeps in from time to time, but never to the point of total distraction. The print shows little in the way of wear-and-tear. It doesn't dazzle, but Sony's transfer definitely gets the job done.

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah features a native Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 lossless soundtrack. A companion dubbed English language track of the same configuration is also included. The differences between the tracks is stark, but not significant in the grand scheme of things. The Japanese track sounds much fuller, offering a more robust, richer experience than the more shallow and, frankly, unimpressive English version. Opening music offers a good example of the superior presence and weight the Japanese track produces, though certainly both fail to find a truly deep, immersive, lifelike presence. The lack of bass and the absence of real volume to the track is disappointing. Godzilla's footfalls -- particularly those of "dinosaur" Godzilla in the World War II sequence in chapter six -- are absent a true, thunderous power, playing quite punily, in fact, with the Japanese track only providing a little more sense of weight. Dialogue is shallow and inept on the English track. It's more forceful and clear in Japanese, but accompanied by underlying hiss. There's some decent reverberation and spacing in chapter four as sound bounces around the alien ship, but otherwise the track lacks much in the way of organic and exciting immersive support effects. Battle sequences, like the footfalls, offer basic, identifiable sound effects but never surround the listener or play with significant power. All around, a disappointing track but one that's fortunately a bit better in its native Japanese (optional English, English SDH, and French subtitles are included).

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah contains only a collection of original trailers: Teaser 1 (HD, 0:34, Japanese DD 2.0, English subtitles), Teaser 2 (HD, 0:35, Japanese DD 2.0, English subtitles), Teaser 3 (HD, 0:47, Japanese DD 2.0, English subtitles), and Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:20, Japanese DD 2.0, English subtitles).

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah embraces an attitude that allows it to relish in cheesy, goofy fun. It's never all that serious, even in its darkest moments of destruction and focused examinations of temporal manipulation for political and economic gain. The film does satisfy all basic expectations for a Godzilla film, with a suitable amount of mayhem, particularly in its closing act, and a basic assortment of human characters, this time complimented by a contingent from a couple of centuries into the future. Series fans will have a blast with this one, and it's a solid entry point for newcomers considering the origins groundwork laid down within. Sony's Blu-ray release features serviceable video and midlevel audio. Supplements are limited to an assortment of trailers. Recommended.