The Toho Godzilla Collection Double Feature Series: Godzilla vs King Ghidorah/Godzilla and Mothra: Battle for Earth, Godzilla vs Destroyah/Godzilla vs Megaguirius, Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla 2/Godzilla vs Space Godzilla, Godzilla Tokyo S.O.S/Godzilla Final Wars (1991 - 2004/Sony Blu-rays)

Picture: A Sound: A Extras: D Films: (see below)

Sony has done a fantastic job with the Blu-ray double features of these Godzilla films. In the wake of the new film being released, this disc is an excellent addition to any kaiju fan. The only downfall is that the special features are limited, though the new 1080p high definitions transfers are pretty sharp and make the films look better than ever. Assisting the transfer is a DTS-HD Master Audio track that brings the explosions and fun sound effects right to your living room.

The double feature sets are as follows:

Godzilla vs King Ghidorah/ Godzilla and Mothra: Battle for Earth

Godzilla vs Destroyah/ Godzilla vs Megaguirius

Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla 2/ Godzilla vs Space Godzilla

Godzilla Tokyo S.O.S/ Godzilla Final Wars

Godzilla vs King Ghidorah (1991) Film: A

The film opens in the 23^rd century in the ocean, where a high tech boat discovers the remains of King Ghidorah missing one of its heads sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Reverse back to 1992, where a UFO has landed on Earth to warn its citizens that in the future Japan will no longer exist due to Godzilla. The UFO that has landed reveals itself to be a time machine from the future Earth, which is in the future known as the Earth Union. The future humans warn the past humans of Japans fate and unveil a plan to get rid of Godzilla for good.

The origins of Godzilla are then explained. In 1944, a dinosaur off the coast of Lagos saved some Japanese soldiers who ended up shaping the economic landscape of the country. Soon after, there was radioactive testing and the dinosaur was hit, turning it into the infamous Godzilla! The rage of this transformation is what has caused the monster to attack Japan. Piecing together this story from a crazed witness named Mr. Shindu to Godzilla's original form, Terasawa (an ambitious writer on the monster) has been chosen to lead a team of three experts to help assist the teleportation of Godzilla to the future to prevent the disaster from happening. The experts on the team also include Mazaki, the dinosaur expert and Miki Saegusa, a member of the Paranormal Research Center.

The team is abducted by the aliens (which has a very vintage Star Trek: The Original Series-esque feel) and escorted onto the Mother Ship. They reveal that one of their members is in fact an android that looks very human (Alien anyone?). They also have dorats, odd looking but innocent winged creatures that were created through biotechnology advancements in the 23^rd century. They board a shuttle and travel back to 1944 to see Godzilla in his original form in an awesome sequence that reveals him stomping through the trees and appearing over a mountain. Scared of the dinosaur's arrival, the Japanese unleash fire upon him and in retaliation the dinosaur knocks trees down on top of them. When the Americans start to fire form their naval ship, it injures the dinosaur very badly and it starts bleeding profusely (I was sad during this part). Luckily for us though, the dinosaur fights back and steps on the firing American soldiers. The group from the future confirms that the dinosaur is in fact Godzilla and attempts to teleport it. Graceful of the Americans defeat by the hands of the prehistoric creature, they honor him and return home to Japan. The team from the future teleport Godzilla, curing him of the future's fate though at the same time King Ghidorah appears along the Pacific Ocean. Soon, he invades Japan and lays waste to several buildings and endangers the massive population. How can the future be saved without Godzilla to protect them from the wrath of this infamous kaiju? A mistake was made when the future persons left the innocent dorats in the past which in turn were infected by the H-Bomb that created Godzilla and caused the creation of King Ghidorah. Or was it a mistake?

We realize that these time travelers from the future have secret intentions who wish to destroy Japan so it will not become the giant economic resource in the creation and manipulation of King Ghidorah and in turn, the teleportation ends up still creating an all new Godzilla... only this time he's even bigger and badder then before. An awe-inspiring battle between the two giant monsters unfolds while the past and the present collide on the time traveling spaceship. The final fight sequence includes a half robotic King Ghidorah that gives Godzilla a real fight! There's really nothing to not like about this film, which that includes some great sweeping shots of Godzilla stomping through the city and some great perspective shots from within the Robo-Ghidorah.

Another thing I love about this film is the inclusion of the original Godzilla theme on the soundtrack whenever the King of Monsters appears. The film overall is intense and has a unique blend of science fiction and giant monster battling that makes it a must see for any Godzilla fan!

Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992) Film: B+

The second film on this disc is 1992's Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth and it is an exhilarating watch from start to finish! After a series of earthquakes unearths a giant orb, a trio of Japanese explorers is dispatched to the wondrous infant island to investigate. On the island they meet up with the island's sole inhabitants - miniature twin women whose duty is to protect the giant orb - which is Mothra's egg! Soon, Godzilla wakes up and takes vengeance upon the group while they attempt to bring the egg back to Japan. After Godzilla attacks, the egg hatches and the battle begins!

A large meteor hurtles towards earth, lands in the ocean and awakens Godzilla. One particularly large typhoon is monitored over the Pacific Ocean. The next day, a young man named Takuya Fujita is detained after stealing an ancient artifact. Later, a representative of the Japanese Prime Minister arrives with Takuya's ex-wife, Masako Tezuka, and offers him to explore an island with Masako and Marutomo company secretary, Kenji Ando, and become a free man. Takuya initially turns down the offer, on the basis that he is to be released in another week. But after his ex-wife informs him that his sentence has been reconsidered, he accepts. After the trio arrives at the island, they find a cave behind a waterfall. Inside, they discover ancient paintings, including a picture of two giant insects fighting one another. While studying them, the sun shines through a hole in the wall, and the light points to a small opening in the cave, where they come upon a giant egg. The three hear a pair of voices, which belong to the Cosmos. They keep the earth's natural order in balance, and informs them the egg belongs to Mothra.

The Cosmos tell of an ancient, advanced civilization that tried to control the earth's climate. In return, the earth created Battra. Battra became uncontrollable, and started to harm the very planet that created it. Mothra, another earth protector, fought a fierce battle with Battra, who eventually lost. However, in the course of the battle, the civilization was destroyed. Mothra retired to Infant Island, and Battra the Northern Sea. Due to recent disasters, Mothra's egg has been uncovered, and the Cosmos fear that Battra has awoken as well.

Meanwhile, Japanese forces try to stop Battra's invasion, but fail. Makoto then orders a freighter sent to Infant Island to pick up the egg, planning to exploit it. Ando explains to Masako and Takuya that, contrary to Takeshi's true intentions, he intends to protect the egg, and the Cosmos agree to let him take it. As they are sailing, Godzilla surfaces, and heads toward the egg. The egg then hatches, and a Mothra larvae crawls out. The two begin fighting. Battra soon appears and joins the fight, with Mothra caught in the middle. Mothra finally gets a chance at escape, and takes it. The battle between Godzilla and Battra is eventually taken underwater, where the force of the battle causes a giant crack in the ocean's floor that swallows the two.

After the ordeal at sea, Takuya, Ando, Masako, and the Cosmos stay overnight at a hotel. While Ando is drinking, Masako and Takuya have a discussion about the day's events, and about their history together. Masako awakens to discover that the Cosmos have gone missing, and immediately wakes up Takuya, who immediately realizes that Ando took them back to Takeshi. The two take a flight back to Tokyo, where Masako meets up with their daughter, Midori, her sister, Mayumi, and Professor Fukazawa. While they talk, Takuya leaves.

Masako then goes to the Diet to try to get them to buy the Cosmos back. They offer Takeshi all they can afford, but he turns them down. While this is happening, the Cosmos call out to Mothra and are saved. Marutomo employees discover the Cosmos are missing, and suspects the government of stealing them. Meanwhile, the government discovers that Mothra is on her way to Japan. While they are not certain of how Mothra will behave, they feel they must prepare for the worst. The next day, Masako sets out with Midori and telepath Miki Saegusa to find the Cosmos. After driving throughout the city, Miki finally hears the Cosmos' song and leads them to a hotel, where they find Takuya in possession of the Cosmos, and trying to sell them. While all this is happening, Mothra is heading through the city, directly towards the hotel. After Midori begs him to release the Cosmos, Takuya reconciles, and lets them free. The Cosmos then tell Mothra to leave the city, and not to hurt anyone else. Mothra turns around, and heads back. The forces attack again, but stop when they realize that Masako and the others are in the hotel. Mothra, behaving strangely, heads for the Diet building. Mothra starts building a cocoon around herself. While she does this, Miki feels Godzilla is alive, and has just surfaced from Mount Fuji. Mothra transforms into her adult form and flies away. Battra, alive as well, also transforms into his adult form.

Mothra and Battra meet up at Yokohama Cosmo World, and proceed to battle. At this point, Godzilla shows up and Battra decides that Godzilla is a more important target, and attacks him instead. Godzilla soon defeats Battra. At this point, Mothra charges Godzilla with her rays. With Godzilla temporarily disabled, Mothra flies towards Battra, and revives him.

Godzilla then fires his atomic ray at a nearby Ferris wheel and attempts to collapse it onto Mothra. Battra grabs the Ferris wheel, and crashes it onto Godzilla. Eventually, Godzilla is overwhelmed and falls to the ground, and Mothra and Battra set to carry Godzilla back into the ocean. Over the sea, Godzilla fires a blast at Battra from point blank range, killing him. A tired Mothra drops Godzilla and the lifeless Battra into the water below. The next morning, the Cosmos explain Battra had been waiting many years to destroy an even larger meteorite that would threaten the earth in 1999. Mothra had promised she would stop the future collision if Battra were to die, and she and the Cosmos leave Earth as the humans bid farewell.

I have always been a big fan of Mothra and am thrilled with this high definition release.

Godzilla vs Destroyah (1995) Film: B+

Released just two years after Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, this Godzilla is a treat because it brings in not only the King of Monsters but Godzilla Jr. himself - who both must battle against the unstoppable foe - Destroyah! When a super charged blast strikes, a bigger and badder Godzilla is unleashed from his own ashes. Godzilla's nuclear energy is increasing by the minute - threatening the planet of a massive monster meltdown! Soon Destroyah emerges and all hell breaks loose!

In 1996, after the death of SpaceGodzilla, Miki Saegusa travels to Birth Island to check on Godzilla and his adopted son. However, she finds the entire island destroyed. In Hong Kong, Godzilla appears covered in glowing lava-like rashes. He goes on a rampage, causing major collateral damage and killing thousands of civilians. A group of representatives from the Japan Self Defense Forces hire college student Kenichi Yamane, the grandson of Dr. Kyohei Yamane, to come work at the center in an attempt to unravel the mystery of Godzilla's condition. Yamane suspects that Godzilla's heart, which acts as a nuclear reactor, is going through a nuclear meltdown. When Godzilla reaches 1,200 degrees Celsius, he will explode with more force than all of the world's nuclear weapons, taking the world with him.

The JSDF deploys a flying combat vehicle outfitted with anti-nuclear cold weapons to forestall this; the Super-X III. Meanwhile, scientists create a new formula for the Oxygen Destroyer that was created by Dr. Serizawa in 1954. This does not sit well with the JSDF, who fear that the Oxygen Destroyer, which was used to kill the original Godzilla, may have disastrous side effects. This belief is proven when a colony of Precambrian organisms are discovered to have been mutated by the formula. The creatures infest a sewer network and eventually make their way into an aquarium, killing all the sea life inside. They rapidly evolve into monstrous crab-like creatures and begin wreaking havoc. After several deadly skirmishes with the JSDF, the creatures, dubbed Destoroyah, evolve beyond the military's containment abilities.

Little Godzilla reappears as Godzilla Junior, having mutated further and now closely resembling his father, heads for the island where he was born. Godzilla, who is searching for his son, follows him, but complications arise. Due to his encounter with the Super-X III, Godzilla will not explode but will instead suffer a bodily meltdown. After dying from the meltdown, Godzilla's superheated remains will bore into the planet's core, destroying the Earth. Desperate, the JSDF decide to lure Godzilla into a confrontation with the evolving Destoroyah by hiring Miki and another psychic named Meru Ozawa into telepathically instructing Junior to travel to Tokyo, which Destoroyah is currently invading. Godzilla will no doubt follow, and since Destoroyah was born from the same weapon that destroyed the first Godzilla, he will surely lose the battle, preventing the meltdown.

The psychics successfully lure Godzilla Junior to Tokyo, where he is attacked by Destoroyah, who has now increased in size and sprouted a pair of bat-like wings. In the ensuing brawl, Destoroyah is seemingly killed after being blown into an electrical plant. By nightfall, Godzilla and Junior meet near Haneda Airport. Their reunion is cut short when Destoroyah, having once again evolved and now outmatching Godzilla in height, flies in for another attack. Destoroyah knocks down Godzilla and grabs Junior, dropping him from an extreme altitude that brings the young dinosaur close to death. Godzilla, enraged, attacks Destoroyah and a brutal battle erupts. The two creatures inflict serious wounds upon each other, each calling upon their own unique abilities to destroy the other. Eventually, Godzilla sends Destoroyah spewing up vital fluids, forcing the creature to retreat.

Alone at last, Godzilla tries to revive his son but fails. Overcome by grief, Godzilla's heart continues to fail, accelerating the meltdown. Destoroyah, having recovered from its previous injuries, once again appears. In a fury of rage, Godzilla bombards Destoroyah with a number of supercharged atomic blasts, blowing the creature to pieces. Overcome by the attack and the extreme heat from Godzilla's meltdown, Destoroyah tries to fly away, but the JSDF shoots it down with a number of freeze weapons designed to work against Godzilla. Upon hitting the ground, Destoroyah disintegrates from thermal shock.

Moments later, Godzilla starts to die from the meltdown, but the JSDF are able to sustain him momentarily with the freeze weapons. Ultimately, they are unable to rescue Godzilla and he gives out one last weak roar before he tragically suffers his meltdown. While they succeeded in preventing Earth's destruction, the JSDF have been unable to stop the massive nuclear fallout from rendering Tokyo uninhabitable. All of a sudden, the radiation levels plummet and something can be seen stirring in the mist: Godzilla Junior is apparently revived due to his father's power being channeled into his body and he is now a full-grown adult, ready to take on his father's title of King of the Monsters and Godzilla will somehow return someday.

Godzilla vs Megaguirus (2000) Film: B+

Five years after Godzilla laid waste to the Japanese city of Osaka, Scientists have developed a way to finally destroy him. They have created the world's first man-made black hole, which will trap Godzilla for eternity! But during a test, an insect caught in the black hole mutates, producing gargantuan eggs that give birth to a new kaiju - the Meganula Queen MEGAGUIRUS and its giant dragonfly monsters called Meganula! Now Godzilla may be Japan's only hope against these new evil creatures!

After the events of Godzilla 2000, Godzilla continues to destroys the cities before leaving the shores and wait for the destruction.

However, Godzilla was awakened from a long sleep by H-Bomb. In 1954, he attacked Tokyo and destroyed the city. The capital of Japan was moved to Osaka. In 1966, Godzilla attacked first Japanese nuclear plant in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture. The section of Japanese Self Defense Force to fight Godzilla was created. It was called G-Graspers. In 1996, clean plasma energy replaced nuclear energy, but Godzilla attacked once again. He destroyed science institute and returned to sea.

In 2001, an experimental satellite-based weapon that fires miniature black holes, called the Dimension Tide, opens a wormhole through which a prehistoric dragonfly enters the present and deposits a single egg before exiting through the wormhole. A boy finds the egg and takes it with him when he moves to Tokyo. The egg starts oozing a strange liquid, so the boy throws the egg in the sewer. The egg, actually a mass of hundreds of eggs, splits up and starts growing when exposed to water, hatching into large dragonfly larva called Meganulon that come out of the sewer to feed. They flood a portion of the city and moult on the sides of buildings, becoming adult Meganula.

Meanwhile, the atomic dinosaur Godzilla appears, in search of a source of nuclear energy, despite the edict shutting down all such attractants after his three previous appearances. While Godzilla is fighting the G-Graspers, who are assisted by rebellious scientist Hajime Kudo, the swarm of Meganula are attracted in turn to Godzilla's energy, and attack him. Most Meganula are killed, but a few drain some of Godzilla's energy and return to the sewer. With the last of their strength, the Meganula inject Godzilla's energy into a huge, sleeping larva that is in a giant, pulsating cocoon. It molts and appears from the water as Megaguirus, the queen of the Meganula.

After destroying part of the city with shock waves generated by her beating wings, Megaguirus heads to the waterfront and faces Godzilla. Being territorial, Megaguirus considers the city to be her hunting ground. As they engage in a lengthy battle, she uses her speed to avoid Godzilla's attacks, but Godzilla eventually uses her speed against her. As she flies toward Godzilla, he lunges forward with his dorsal fins in her path. She flies into the fins, and one of her arms is severed.

During the battle, a special ability of Megaguirus is revealed: Having been mutated by Godzilla's energy, she can generate a blast similar to his atomic breath. She fires a huge ball of radiation, knocking Godzilla down. He gets back up, and Megaguirus goes in for the kill. She speeds forward with the stinger on her long tail lowered, trying to stab Godzilla between the eyes. In a climactic moment, Godzilla catches the stinger in his mouth. He bites down, crushing the stinger. Megaguirus rears up in pain, and Godzilla takes the chance to finally blast her with his atomic breath. She bursts into flames and Godzilla blasts her a second time and destroys her.

It is revealed that Godzilla was attracted to the energy of a secret nuclear project housed at the Science Institute, in violation of the ban, by Professor Yoshino Yoshizawa. The G-Graspers continue their mission to destroy Godzilla, but with the Dimension Tide falling out of orbit they are unable to get a lock on Godzilla, until the vengeful Major Kiriko Tsujimori pilots a ship called Gryphon towards Godzilla, ejecting only at the last second. The Dimension Tide is able to lock on to the craft and fires just before burning up on reentry; Godzilla vanishes and everyone celebrates. In a postlude, however, Major Tsujimori again enlists Kudo to investigate suspicious seismic activity; then in an after-credits scene, Godzilla's roar is heard again as an earthquake strikes Tokyo.

Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla 2 (1993) Film: A

Built with the utmost in 20^th century technology, MechaGodzilla gets an upgrade and is the ultimate Godzilla butt-kicking machine. Fueled by a nuclear reactor and sheathed in a synthetic diamond shield, he is more ready for fighting than ever to face off against the King of Monsters. Meanwhile, on a remote island a team of scientists discover the giant egg of Baby Godzilla. When they bring it home to hatch, Rodan and Godzilla show up and MechaGodzilla is put to the ultimate test. What will the fate be for Godzilla Jr?!

In 1992, the United Nations establishes the United Nations Godzilla Countermeasures Center (UNGCC) to stop Godzilla. The remains of Mecha-King Ghidorah are salvaged from the ocean and used to create two anti-Godzilla machines. The first is a flying gunship called Garuda. The second and more powerful machine, modeled after Godzilla himself, is called Mechagodzilla.

Two years later, on a mission to Adona Island in the Bering Sea, a Japanese team comes across what they assume is a large pteranodon egg. The egg gives off a strange telepathic signal that attracts Godzilla and Rodan an adult pteranodon irradiated by the nuclear waste. Both monsters appear and fight for the egg. During their battle Godzilla critically wounds Rodan while the research team escapes with the egg. It's taken to a research center in Kyoto, where it imprints on a young female scientist. When a Baby Godzilla hatches from the egg, the research team concludes that the egg was left in the pteranodon nest with Rodan, just as European cuckoos leave their eggs in the nests of other birds. Godzilla appears in Japan, once again responding to the creature's psychic call. The JSDF mobilizes Mechagodzilla, which intercepts Godzilla as he is making his way to Kyoto. The two battle, with Mechagodzilla seeming to have the upper hand, until Godzilla disables Mechagodzilla with a pulse of energy. Godzilla continues searching for Baby, but the scientists, having discovered the telepathic link between the monsters, shield it from Godzilla. Frustrated, Godzilla destroys most of Kyoto before returning to the ocean.

Tests on the baby reveal that it has a second brain in his hips that controls the animal's movement. The UNGCC assumes that this also holds true for Godzilla and decide to use Baby to bait Godzilla into a fight with Mechagodzilla. The G-Crusher is installed in Mechagodzilla's wrists, allowing the robot to penetrate Godzilla's hide and paralyze the monster by destroying its second brain. The plan backfires, however, when Rodan, having survived his battle with Godzilla and further mutated by radiation, responds to Baby's call and intercepts the UNGCC transport.

The UNGCC is forced to send Mechagodzilla and Garuda after Rodan instead and, in the ensuing battle, Rodan is mortally wounded. Godzilla shows up moments later and attacks Mechagodzilla. When the two appear to be evenly matched, Mechagodzilla combines with Garuda. The upgraded Mechagodzilla, called Super-Mechagodzilla, carries out the G-Crusher plan and succeeds in paralyzing Godzilla. Suddenly, the dying Rodan, once again revived by Baby's call, attempts to escape. Super-Mechagodzilla shoots him down and Rodan lands on top of Godzilla. Rodan's lifeforce regenerates Godzilla's second brain and supercharges him. Now more unstoppable than before, Godzilla attacks and destroys Super-Mechagodzilla with a high-powered red atomic ray.

Godzilla finally locates Baby, who is at first afraid of the giant monster. Miki Saegusa, a young psychic woman with a link to Godzilla, telepathically communicates with Godzilla, convincing him to adopt Baby as his own. Baby then accepts Godzilla as his father, and Godzilla and Baby head out to the sea.

Godzilla vs Space Godzilla (1994) Film: A

Last year's excellent Pacific Rim definitely owes a debt of gratitude to this film which features man-made giant robots battling Kaiju and getting its butt kicked! The photography and special effects in this entry are simply fabulous and the creation of Space Godzilla proves to be a worthy nemesis. This film is definitely more sci-fi/ fantasy adventure than previous Godzilla outings and is among my favorite Godzilla films of all time.

Godzilla cells brought into space by Biollante and Mothra are exposed to intense radiation from a black hole. The celestial fission creates a highly aggressive extraterrestrial beast closely resembling Godzilla. This SpaceGodzilla quickly makes its way to Earth.

Meanwhile, a group of soldiers and scientists are setting up at Birth Island to try Project T against Godzilla, who has taken up residence on the isle. The plan is to plant a device on Godzilla which will allow the Japan Self Defense Forces to control the mutant dinosaur telepathically. With help from psychic Miki Saegusa, the project is put into action, but it ultimately fails. Afterward, the Cosmos, Mothra's twin priestesses, appear to Miki and warn her of SpaceGodzilla's arrival. With Mothra gone to space, the world will have to rely on Godzilla to stop the invader. SpaceGodzilla gets closer and closer to Earth, destroying a NASA space station along the way, Moguera, a giant penguin-like robot built by the JSDF to replace the Mechagodzilla, is sent in to intercept SpaceGodzilla, but the alien uses a number of psychic attacks to cripple the robot, forcing it to retreat.

Attracted to Godzilla's radiation, SpaceGodzilla lands on Birth Island, where it finds Godzilla's son, Little Godzilla. SpaceGodzilla mercilessly attacks the small creature when he approaches it curiously, and Godzilla comes to his son's rescue. Godzilla puts up a good fight, but finds himself overwhelmed by SpaceGodzilla's power and is knocked out. With Godzilla temporarily subdued, SpaceGodzilla creates a small cage made of crystals and traps Little Godzilla inside of it. It then leaves for Japan, intending to destroy it. Godzilla, after failing to free his son from the cage, follows SpaceGodzilla.

Shortly thereafter, the Yakuza captures Miki and brings her back to their base in Fukuoka in an attempt to use Project T to gain control of Godzilla. Fortunately, a recovery team is successfully dispatched and Miki and the team escape before SpaceGodzilla arrives and destroys the building. SpaceGodzilla lands in central Fukuoka and forms a massive fortress of celestial crystals. Moguera arrives to once again fight SpaceGodzilla, but is still no match for it. Godzilla arrives in Kagoshima Bay and fights SpaceGodzilla, but SpaceGodzilla's cosmic powers easily allow it to gain the upper hand.

The JSDF discovers that SpaceGodzilla is using Fukuoka Tower as a power converter, using it to transform the Earth's core into an energy that SpaceGodzilla can absorb, slowly killing the planet. While Godzilla wrestles with SpaceGodzilla, Moguera splits into two different mechs: the Star Falcon, a flying battleship, and the Land Moguera, a tank. The mechs damage the crystal fortress while Godzilla pushes over Fukuoka Tower, cutting off SpaceGodzilla's energy supply. Moguera quickly reforms and blasts off SpaceGodzilla's crystal-like shoulder formations, weakening it. Enraged, SpaceGodzilla beats Moguera into submission and starts to throttle Godzilla, who further wounds SpaceGodzilla by gouging out his eyes.

With SpaceGodzilla brutally beaten and blinded, Moguera uses up the last of its power supply by ramming into the alien beast, but SpaceGodzilla impales Moguera with his tail and hurls it into the remains of the crystal fortress. Godzilla blasts SpaceGodzilla with his atomic ray, sending him crashing on top of Moguera. With a supercharged atomic blast, Godzilla eradicates SpaceGodzilla including Moguera's remains, and cosmic energy floats from the inferno and vanishes in the atmosphere.

Having won the fight, Godzilla makes his way back to Birth Island. Before he departs, Miki uses her psychic powers to remove the mind control device from Godzilla's neck in which he turns to her and nods. Little Godzilla is then free from the crystal prison and can blow bubbles of fire.

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S (2003) Film: A

Kiryu is undergoing repair modifications after its battle with Godzilla. Prime Minister Hayato Igarashi accepts Lead Scientist Yoshito Chujo's choice to replace the Absolute Zero Cannon with a powerful Tri-Maser.

The Shobijin (Mothra's twin fairies) warn the Japanese government that Godzilla continues returning to Japan because they used the original Godzilla's bones in Kiryu's design. If they return the bones to the bottom of the sea, Mothra would gladly take Kiryu's place in defending Japan, but if they do not, Mothra will declare war on humanity. Soon enough, Kamoebas, a giant mata mata turtle, is found washed ashore on a Japanese beach. It is determined by the wounds on Kamoebas' neck that Godzilla killed it. Godzilla and Mothra fight, but Godzilla seems to have the upper hand. With the repairs finished just in time, Kiryu manages to even the odds, but Godzilla manages to knock out both monsters.

Meanwhile, on Infant Island, two twin Mothra larvae hatch from Mothra's egg, and rush to help their mother. As Kiryu was being repaired, the larvae try to hold Godzilla off, but Mothra is killed by Godzilla's atomic breath while trying to save her children. Just in time, Yoshito and the humans repair Kiryu, who stabs Godzilla's chest with a drill, causing Godzilla to bleed. Godzilla roars in pain, and the larvae begin to bind him up in web. Just as Kiryu's pilot, Azusa Kisaragi, receives the order by Igarashi to destroy Godzilla before the Kiryu project is scrapped, Kiryu's soul is re-awakened through Godzilla's roar. The cyborg lifts Godzilla and secures themselves with cables. Kiryu then uses its boosters to carry itself and Godzilla to the bottom of the ocean.

In the film's post-credits scene, in an undisclosed location, a laboratory is shown, filled with canisters that contain the DNA of numerous Toho kaiju. It is stated in the Japanese version via on off-screen voice giving announcements that a bio-formation experiment involving an "extinct subject" is about to take place, implying that the JXSDF plans to create another mecha or kaiju-based superweapon, which could mean that Godzilla or another monster could appear once again.

Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) Film: A

In 2004, endless warfare and environmental pollution has resulted in dangerous kaiju and the Earth Defense Force (EDF) is created to protect the planet. The organization is equipped with the best technology, weapons and soldiers, as well as mutants with special abilities. Godzilla is the EDF's only unstoppable opponent. The EDF's best combat vehicle, the Gotengo, corners Godzilla at the South Pole and buries him under the Antarctic ice, freezing him alive.

Forty years later, the EDF discovers a mummified space monster. The mutant soldier Shinichi Ozaki and the United Nations biologist Dr. Miyuki Otonashi are sent to research it. Shortly thereafter, the two encounter the Shobijin, fairies of the guardian monster Mothra, who reveal that the monster is Gigan, an alien cyborg sent to destroy Earth 12,000 years earlier. They also warn that a battle between good and evil will happen soon and that Ozaki, because of his mutant capabilities, must choose between the two.

Suddenly, kaiju appear in major cities. The EDF attempts to drive them away. The monsters include Anguirus in Shanghai, Rodan in New York City, King Caesar in Okinawa, Kamacuras in Paris, Kumonga in Arizona, Godzilla himself in Sydney and Ebirah near Tokyo. Despite defeating Ebirah, the EDF is unsuccessful in destroying the monsters. After destroying most of the cities, the monsters vanish and an enormous alien mothership appears over Tokyo. The aliens, known as Xiliens, say that they are friendly and have eliminated the monsters. They also warn the Earth about an impending asteroid called Gorath that will impact soon. Because of their seemingly-friendly nature, the UN is disbanded and the Space Nations, an alliance to unite the universe, is organized.

Ozaki, Miyuki, Douglas Gordon (the Gotengo's captain) and several others distrust the aliens. Using research and undercover work, they discover that the Xiliens are actually the ones who unleashed the kaiju; and that they also replaced several members of the EDF with android duplicates. They plan on subjugating humanity to harvest their mitochondria for food. The Xiliens are exposed on television. Opposed to the Xilien commander's decision to subtly take over Earth, his subordinate, the Regulator named X, kills the commander and assumes control of Earth's mutants, except for Ozaki. The kaiju are again released in Earth's major cities. Ozaki, Miyuki, Gordon, and others flee to their secret facility, and the EDF is defeated.

On Mt. Fuji, a hunter, Samon Taguchi, and his grandson, Kenta, discover Minilla, Godzilla's son. They are successful in keeping a low profile and hiding from the Xiliens' assault.

Gordon proposes freeing Godzilla to allow the dinosaur to defeat the other kaiju. Using the Gotengo, the EDF goes to Antarctica while being chased by Gigan. After Godzilla is released from his hibernation, he kills Gigan, and follows the Gotengo. The Gotengo returns to Tokyo, hoping Godzilla will unwittingly defeat the Xiliens. The Xiliens send the controlled kaiju after Godzilla, but he defeats them in short battles. While all of the other kaiju are presumably killed, Godzilla spares Anguirus, Rodan, and King Caesar after defeating them at Mt. Fuji (breaking free their controls). The Gotengo and Godzilla arrive at Tokyo, whereupon the Gotengo enters the mothership.

During the battle, Ozaki's friend Kazama destroys the Mothership's shield generator at the cost of his own life. Meanwhile, the asteroid Gorath strikes Godzilla. Monster X materializes and starts to battle Godzilla. Gigan, who has now been upgraded, aids Monster X, but Mothra arrives to engage him into battle. Inside the Xilien mothership, the humans confront the Xilien Regulator. Ozaki is revealed to be a Keizer, an all-powerful being capable of controlling Earth. Deciding to stay with the humans, Ozaki fights the Xilien Regulator, who is also a Keizer. After an extended battle, the humans are victorious and flee the Mothership's destruction.

During their battle, Gigan hits Mothra with a laser beam, causing her to be engulfed in flames. However, Mothra is able to kill Gigan with a kamikaze-style attack after Gigan accidentally cuts off its own head with boomerang saw blades.

With Gigan and Mothra dead, Godzilla continues his battle with Monster X, who mutates into Keizer Ghidorah. Keizer Ghidorah initially has an advantage over Godzilla using lightning to overpower him, and it drains Godzilla's power through its teeth. Ozaki aids Godzilla by transferring some of his Keizer powers over to the monster and Godzilla prevails over Ghidorah. He then turns to attack the Gotengo, but a much larger Minilla arrives, along with the hunter and his grandson, and blocks his father from harming the humans, which causes Godzilla to realize that he must forgive mankind. The survivors watch as Godzilla and Minilla head back to the ocean, as Godzilla turns and lets out one final roar.

During the credits we see that Mothra actually is still alive as she is seen flying back to Infant Island.

The 1080p various aspect ratio presentations, digital High Definition image mastered with Japanese DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Stereo lossless sound in all cases are the best way these films that has ever been seen on the home video market. The only minus is the lack of extras, which are just theatrical trailers.

In the wake of the release of the new Godzilla film directed by Gareth Edwards, these are exciting to have on Blu-ray disc and I highly suggest picking them up and giving them a watch!

- James Harland Lockhart V

www.vimeo.com/jamielockhart