The Film:

This was Ishiro Honda’s last directed Godzilla film and the last in the original Showa series and perhaps a high note to end that cycle on. Picking of where ‘Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla’ ended, all thoughts of the robotic Godzilla where thought to be destroyed. But the evil spacemen from the Black Hole want to rebuild it and use it to destroy Earth. Aided by a deranged scientist, Dr. Mafune (Akihiko Hirata) and with the use of mind control over a sea monster known as Titanosaurus, all seems lost for Earth, until Godzilla steps back in to protect.

This film, despite its low box office return and putting the series on hiatus for nearly a decade, returns Godzilla to some of his glory days. The film takes a darker, cynical edge absent from some of the recent kid-friendly films, and features some impressive special effects. The overall depth of perspective and size of Mechagodzilla is still impressive in an age of CG. When Mechagodzilla goes on its rampage of Japan, the small sets it destroys are masterfully created, and inspired Quentin Tarantino for when the Bride travels in the airplane to fight the Crazy Eighty-Eights.

What really enhances the effect sequences is Akira Ifukube’s score. Absent from the series since 1968, he adds a menacing pulse with the famous marching theme with the use of some synth tracks. The score aids the nature of the film’s villain’s violent intentions and when Godzilla first appears in silhouette against the fire of a destroyed city, Ifukube shines.

‘Terror of Mechagodzilla’ is a really enjoyable outing. There is seriousness to the subject matter, great fight sequences, and with one of the Showa era’s more realistic villains, the Titanosaurus, this is a must-own for kaiju fans.

The DVD:

Classic Media’s final Godzilla DVD, is a good one with a slick anamorphic widescreen transfer, a solid audio presentation, all which rank up high with their other Godzilla DVDs.

The transfer benefits from being newer and like ‘All Monsters Attack’, has sharp detail and colors. There’s little to no flaws as is as good as the film will probably ever look. The audio is hiss free and while there’s no depth or bass, is a solid track with no complaints.

Extras include a ‘Women of Godzilla’ feature running nearly 10 minutes that covers some of the ladies who appeared within the Showa series and is filled with photos and historical notes.

An audio commentary from Keith Aiken and Bob Johnson provide the expected production notes and historical information, but they are also clearly fans of the film and offer some candid moments. A worthy listen.