Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (ゴジラ×モスラ×メカゴジラ 東京SOS, Gojira x Mosura x Mekagojira Tōkyō Esu Ō Esu, released in Japan as Godzilla × Mothra × Mechagodzilla: Tokyo SOS)[2] is a 2003 Japanese kaiju film directed by Masaaki Tezuka, written by Tezuka and Masahiro Yokotani, and produced by Shogo Tomiyama. Produced and distributed by Toho Studios, it is the 28th film in the Godzilla franchise, the fifth film in the franchise's Millennium series, the 27th Godzilla film produced by Toho, and a direct sequel to the 2002 film Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla. The film features the fictional monster characters Godzilla and Mothra, along with the mecha character Mechagodzilla, who is referred to in the film by the name Kiryu.

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.
Japanese theatrical release poster
Directed byMasaaki Tezuka
Produced byShogo Tomiyama
Written byMasaaki Tezuka
Masahiro Yokotani
StarringNoboru Kaneko
Miho Yoshioka
Mitsuki Koga
Masami Nagasawa
Chihiro Otsuka
Kou Takasugi
Hiroshi Koizumi
Akira Nakao
Music byMichiru Ōshima
CinematographyYoshinori Sekiguchi
Edited byShinichi Fushima
Production
company
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • 13 December 2003 (2003-12-13)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Box office¥1.3 billion[1]

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. stars Noboru Kaneko, Miho Yoshioka, Mitsuki Koga, Masami Nagasawa, Chihiro Otsuka, Kou Takasugi, Hiroshi Koizumi, and Akira Nakao, with Tsutomu Kitagawa as Godzilla and Motokuni Nakagawa as Kiryu. It is the only installment in the franchise's Millennium period which shares continuity with a previous Godzilla film aside from the original 1954 Godzilla, ignoring the events of every other film in the series besides Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.

Plot

In 2004, Kiryu undergoes repair and modifications after its battle with Godzilla one year earlier.[lower-alpha 1] However, the Shobijin warn the Japanese government that Godzilla continues returning to the country because they used the original Godzilla's skeleton in Kiryu's design. If they return the bones to the sea, Mothra will take Kiryu's place in defending Japan. Due to Mothra attacking Japan in 1961, Prime Minister Hayato Igarashi refuses, but agrees to discontinue Kiryu once it kills Godzilla. Godzilla and Mothra fight, but the former has the upper hand. With the repairs finished, Kiryu joins the fray, but Godzilla knocks both it and Mothra out.

Meanwhile, on Infant Island, twin Mothra larvae hatch from Mothra's egg and rush to help their mother. As lead scientist Yoshito Chujo heads in to repair Kiryu from its internal cockpit, the Japan Xenomorph Self-Defense Forces (JXSDF) and larvae try to hold Godzilla off, but Mothra sacrifices herself to protect the latter from Godzilla's atomic breath. Concurrently, Yoshito finishes repairing Kiryu, allowing it to weaken Godzilla. As the larvae bind Godzilla in silk and Kiryu's remote pilot, Kyosuke Akiba, receives the order to destroy Godzilla before the Kiryu project is scrapped, Kiryu's spirit is reawakened by Godzilla's roar. The cyborg lifts Godzilla and uses its boosters to carry them both out to sea, though it turns over to let Chujo escape before it plunges into the ocean.

In a post-credits scene, an undisclosed laboratory is shown with canisters containing the DNA of numerous kaiju. In the Japanese version, an unidentified voice announces that a "bio-formation" experiment involving an "extinct subject" is about to take place. Additionally in the Japanese version, Godzilla and Kiryu land at the bottom of the ocean, where the former awakens and roars.

Cast

Production

Writing

Toho had commissioned four story outlines for director Tezuka to choose from. Tezuka found them all boring, so instead he wrote a new story outline overnight and submitted it to the studio, which they eventually approved.[3]

Reception

Box office

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. opened on 14 December 2003 on a double bill with the animated feature Hamtaro: Ham Ham Grand Prix. In its opening weekend, it was third place at the box office with $1,686,009 (U.S).

Critical response

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. has received generally positive reviews from journalistic reviewers upon its release on DVD. John Sinnott of DVD Talk gave Tokyo S.O.S. four stars out of five, saying:

There are some problems with this movie, but when all is said and done, I really enjoyed it...While this movie seems to be aimed at a younger audience without a lot of plot or characterization, it was still a lot of fun. The fight scenes were exciting and though they took up most of the movie, they never dragged on or got boring.[4]

Giving the film a score of three out of five, Stomp Tokyo said "the plot is fairly simplistic and the character relationships are painted in broad strokes," but added that the movie "[features] the best monster action Toho has produced."[5] Joseph Savitski of Beyond Hollywood criticized the film's "uninspired script," which he wrote had "ideas [that] are never fully developed," but added that the film is "well-made" and "mak[es] for an entertaining 91 minutes."[6] Mark Zimmer of Digitally Obsessed gave Tokyo S.O.S. a "B" score, calling it "a fun enough action film with enough explosions and destruction of Tokyo to satisfy die-hards and casual fans alike."[7]

Home media

The film was released on DVD by Columbia/Tristar Home Entertainment[8] on 14 December 2004. It included a "Making Of - Featurette for Special Effects." It is also available in a 3-Disc "50th Anniversary Godzilla DVD Collection" box set; along with Son of Godzilla [1967] and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla [1974].

The film was released on blu-ray on the Toho Godzilla Collection[9] on 6 May 2014 in a 2-Disc double feature with Godzilla: Final Wars. It included a "Making of" documentary.

Notes
  1. As depicted in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.

References
  1. 歴代ゴジラ映画作品一覧
  2. DeSentis, John. "GODZILLA SOUNDTRACK PERFECT COLLECTION BOX 6". Scifi Japan. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  3. "Tokyo SOS Director". Scifi Japan TV. September 18, 2014.
  4. Review John Sinnott, DVD Talk, 6 December 2004
  5. Review Stomp Tokyo, 17 October 2004
  6. Review Joseph Savitski, Beyond Hollywood
  7. Review Mark Zimmer, Digitally Obsessed, 13 December 2004
  8. http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=7852
  9. http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Godzilla-Tokyo-SOS-Blu-ray/98445/#Review
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