Thoughts on GODZILLA'S REVENGE
Hello all, Steven here. I just finished re-watching GODZILLA'S REVENGE for Weekly Film Focus, and thought I'd share some of my thoughts on it.
First of all, I really don't think it deserves the bad reputation it has. Sure, it's no MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA or INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER, but it's a really, really great children's film. Ichiro is a protagonist that I'm sure most kids watching the film will be able to relate to on some level.
The most interesting thing about GODZILLA'S REVENGE, however, is the story itself. The way I interpret it myself is that the film takes place in "our" world, where Godzilla, Minya, etc. are simply what they are to us - characters in fictional films. To me, this explains (but doesn't justify) the use of stock-footage - Ichiro is simply re-playing in his imagination what he's seen in films, while adding his own observations and commentary with his imaginary friend - Minya.
About the stock-footage - I don't like the extent to which it's used, and I cannot justify it, but I do think it's integrated nicely, which several nice additions to make it flow into the new footage (Godzilla and Ebirah's rock landing in the jungle, and Ichiro and Minya being splashed, for example). GODZILLA'S REVENGE incorporates heavy stock-footage much better than GAMERA: SUPER MONSTER would eleven years later.
There are some really lovely character moments too, like Ichiro and his mother eating breakfast near the end, and when Ichiro leaves for school, his mother briefly begins crying, overjoyed to have her son home safe after his ordeal, before composing herself.
GODZILLA'S REVENGE is a film I'm really fond of, and I enjoy it a lot every time I watch it.
Feel free to submit your own thoughts!