Seems like Godzilla is dying as his nuclear fission levels reach closer and closer to their breaking point. If that breaking point should come, the results could mean the end of all life on Earth. The only thing that can kill Godzilla (who resembles a walking, erupting volcano!) without setting off that fate is what killed him in the original Godzilla - the "oxygen destroyer", a weapon who's secrets have been taken to the grave with its creator. Meanwhile a nemesis far deadlier than any seen before has arisen who might have a connection to the only weapon to ever defeat Godzilla.

In what was supposed to be Toho's grand, epic send off of their beloved Godzilla series before Hollywood was to take it over, Godzilla Vs. Destroyah is probably the most downbeat and tragic since the original Gojira (1954).

It's also one of the best with some spectacular giant monster movie thrills - meaning lots of destruction, cool looking monsters (Destroyah's head looks like a cross between Alien and the Predator, with a body that resembles a sort of bat/crab mixture!) and bombastic sci-fi plotting. Even Godzilla Junior gets in on the action.

If this was to be the end of Toho produced Godzilla movies, they couldn't have ended it on a more satisfying note. All the trademarks of this franchise's greatness are on display including another great score from legendary composer Akira Ifukube. Even though some of these film's weaknesses(occassionaly cheesy effects, absurb plotting, etc) pop up from time to time that doesn't stop this from being the end the fans deserved.

As it would turn out, this was not the end for Toho Studios and Godzilla. After the horrendous response 1998's American remake of Godzilla got when it hit Japanese shores (and pretty much everywhere else too), Toho decided that maybe Godzilla shouldn't be handed over to Hollywood after all and came out with the vastly superior Godzilla 2000. (Derek Carlson, 5/26/04)

Directed By: Takao Okawara.
Written By: Kazuki Omori.

Starring: Yoko Ishino, Megumi Odaka, Takuro Tatsumi.