4/5 Finally! Godzilla as it should be seen! And it's a good one!
  by Ryan Harvey (Los Angeles, CA USA)
REJOICE! TriStar is finally releasing Godzilla films in JAPANESE with ENGLISH SUBTITLES-the way they should be seen. (There's a dubbed version on this disc as well if you still want that childhood feeling of watching a monster movie on Saturday morning). Not only do we get the original Japanese, we also get 5.1 stereo and enhanced widescreen (which is VERY important with a subtitled film when you watch it on a widescreen TV).

As for the film itself: well, chances are you haven't seen this entry in the series. This is the first time it's been available in the U.S. It immediately follows up "Godzilla 2000," although it isn't really a direct sequel (the history of Godzilla is played around with a bit.) It improves immensely on "Godzilla 2000," offering more Godzilla, more science-fiction gadgets and super-weapons, more wacky science, more monster fights, and pretty much all the rubber-suited butt-kicking you could ever want in a Godzilla film. This one has it all, and the effects are clever and fun. The music is also some of the best to thunder through a G-movie since the sixties.

New Godzilla director Masaaki Tezuka is a huge fan of the series, and it shows. This is a fast, fun, fan-pleasing film. And Godzilla is at his best here; a force of lethal destruction, an accidental hero, and someone you do not want to mess with! Godzilla shows more personality here than he has in the last couple of films. You'll root for him and cheer him on during his knock-down drag-out fantastic battle with the baddie monster: a giant insectoid creature called Megaguirus (a spawn from a black hole!).

There are some problems: a few effects just don't work, Godzilla engages in a moment of incredibly silly behavior, and the logic behind much of the science is pretty darn ludicrous. But the action sequences make up for it, and there's so much enjoy here: The "James Bond" style action opening with foot-soldiers trying to take on Godzilla from city block to city block. The heroine actually hanging off of Godzilla's spines. The massive meganuron swarm attack. The flying super-weapon facing-off with Godzilla. And-It bears repeating-that final fight brings down the house! (And about twenty city blocks on the waterfront as well.)

Godzilla fans: grab it now. Casual fans: you don't know what you've been missing, and I envy your first viewing of this exciting, big-lizard-city-smashing-laser-gun-toting-monster-insect-bazookas-blazing-smack-down! ROAR ON, GODZILLA!

(And make sure you also buy the now-available: "Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack," the next film in the series.)

5/5 G-2000's Moment of Glory!!!!
  by C.J. Morrow (Nebraska)
Godzilla Vs. Megaguirus 5 Stars
Over the past fifty years, Japan has suffered untold destruction at the hands of Godzilla, but now Japan may have the weapon to stop him: The Dimension Tide. Unfortunately, the Dimension Tide itself has created a new threat: the monstrous insect Megaguirus, a creature that even Godzilla may not be able to kill. While the fate of the world lies in the hands of a beautiful young military officer and a brash young scientist, the battle for survival begins between the Queen Bug and the King of the Monsters.

(WARNING: SPOILERS:)
Have you ever noticed how divisive G-fans are? No two can ever agree about the same plot point or the same special effects shot. This is both good and bad. It's good to know that they all have their own viewpoints about Godzilla and are not afraid to say so. It's bad though that sometimes these G-fans just seem to hate a Godzilla movie just because it's different and refuse to acknowledge that even a Godzilla film they hate, might still be enjoyed by someone else.
I personally have enjoyed every Godzilla film I have seen to date and refuse to dismiss any of them out of hand.
Now back to the point: Godzilla Vs. Megaguirus rocks!
Yes the movie is silly and illogical, but that's because it ISN'T REALITY! Why anyone would go to see a Godzilla to see reality is beyond me. I take each Godzilla movie by their rules and leave it at that.
I've got to start talking about Godzilla because this review is beginning to sound self-righteous. . . .
The human characters and plots are interesting and logical, nothing that dominates or contributes to the screen over the monsters (as usual).
Now to what's important: the Monsters!!!!

Godzilla
Like many people, I didn't appreciate the G-2000 suit at first, it was just so different and alien compared to the Heisei Godzilla suit we'd lived with for the past decade. However, the suit grew on me, with it's pure bad@$$ look and it's now my favorite design. In this movie, you really see this suit go to town (as the saying goes). Godzilla here does everything you can ever see him do and more: destroying cities, fighting monsters, swimming in the ocean (probably the best we've ever seen), even appearing in Black and White! Others have said this and I'll repeat it for those who hate this design: this Godzilla looks almost alive with this design! None of the recent Godzilla faces have been terribly expressive, if at all, but with the minimum amount of expression, Godzilla shows impressive range: you see him angered, confused, determined, in pain and see him stare a hole straight through our female lead. Godzilla's ray is made very impressive as his crystalline plates glow, the air crackling with the intense heat and energy, even water boiling! Then it explodes with incredible force! This is also the only suit yet that has made Godzilla look good at being green (a new color for him you know) on screen. My ONLY complaint about this costume is the same one I've had for all the newer costumes: they lack mobility. I miss when Godzilla was slim and fast and practically moved like a boxer! Now he moves like a sumo wrestler! He also fights like one most of the time and it's simply not an impressive way to see giant creatures fight (no offense intended to the sport of sumo wrestling).

Megaguirus
While at first Megaguirus looks like a rehashed Battra, the creature is definitely a new animal! Faster and more maneuverable than any flying monster before it, Megaguirus is a difficult creature to catch. At close range the monster isn't anything to sneeze at either: pincers, tooth-filled jaws(?) and a stinger make it dangerous in close-quarters. With Magnetic energy powers as well, Megaguirus is a worthy challenge, albeit a one shot one though, not a nemesis. While obviously the science behind the Megaguirus is ludicrous, the creature itself is a welcome addition to the family.
Mechanically, Megaguirus (in all it's forms) is another in an impressive line of insect marionettes. It moves and reacts in as lifelike a manner as possible, even showing some emotions in amusing ways! It's Magenura and Meganula forms are also very well done using marionettes and CGI (although the effects sometimes look poor by American standards). The only false notes are when the Megaguirus first appears at night and you can see the wires for pretty much the whole sequence. The only time this has ever happened in a Godzilla movie how could they not have noticed! In previous years they'd trick the camera into not seeing the wires or digitally remove the wires in post-production. How they managed to screw up this time I can't figure out, but it's useless to argue with something that's done and irreparable.

Special Effects
As a whole they're better than the cheap American direct-to-video all CGI monster movies around. In fact some digital shots, like Godzilla's ray, the shots of 'what's-her-name' clinging to Godzilla's plates are very impressive, especially because they're in a Godzilla movie! I don't know how they made Tokyo appear flooded in some of those shots, but the effect is incredible. A few effects look tacky, like the miniature trash cans that get knocked over as Godzilla walks past a miniature alley.

The Battle Sequences
The initial attack by the G-Grasper's on Godzilla is ridiculous from a logic standpoint, although rather exciting.
The initial attack on Godzilla by swarms of Meganula is one of those things you'll wonder why it's never been seen before: Godzilla being attacked by thousands of insects that he has to squash like bugs (in some ways this sequence is better than the similar one in Gamera Vs. Legion).
The battle between Godzilla and Megaguirus is one of the best fights throughout the set of recent G-movies. With several twists and turns, and massive destruction. Godzilla's strength and ray are useless so he'll have to outsmart the diabolical bug. It's good to see Godzilla fight in a unique and original way, the fights in other Godzilla movies have been rather bland, but here Godzilla proves how dangerous he is with just his cunning.

Plot
It's pretty much the same as any other Godzilla movie. Although I think the angle of the military officer's thirst for revenge against Godzilla is interesting, but nothing else here is very original.

Conclusion (SPOILER WARNING END)
Another great Godzilla movie, definitely one of the best of the Millennium series. My personal favorite Godzilla costume, great special effects, good opponent, fair human story, some great personality moments for Godzilla and a wonderful after credits ending!!!

4/5 A very fine Godzilla movie and a considerable improvement over "2000"
  by Tom Benton (North Springfield, VT USA)
The 'Millenium' series, the third Godzilla film series, began in 1999 with "Godzilla 2000: Millenium". It was followed by this film - "Godzilla vs. Megaguirus". The premise involves a seemingly crazy idea: launch a black hole on to Godzilla, absorbing and containing him so he can't stomp on Japan anymore. The idea turns out to be not so crazy after all, and so a test firing is done. Unfortunately, while the test seems successful, it creates a wormhole, mutating a dragonfly and creating a horde of vicious, large dragonflies.

"Godzilla 2000", while fun, was not a spectacular movie. "Megaguirus" is a considerable improvement. Although it has its share of hokey moments (not the least of which is Godzilla leaping four-hundred feet into the air), it features an interesting storyline and a good script, not to mention a terrific score (by Michiru Oshima). The highlight of the film is the opening sequence, in which the story of the original 1954 Godzilla film is re-created using the new suit.

While "Godzilla vs. Megaguirus" can't compare to some later entries in the 'Millennium' series - namely "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah" - it's a fine Godzilla movie that should please fans. Be sure to stick around after the credits ...

3/5 Who Needs Bug Spray....
  by Humble Pie (USA)
...when you got Godzilla to radioactively melt and stomp them away? I have been a G fan since the early 1970's and am blessed to have the opportunity to watch some of the old and newer G flicks. This movie, henceforth referred to as GvMeg, turned out to be better than I had expected: the use of plasma to create a black-hole weapon is fascinating; there is fair balance between character development and hard core action; the use of 12-frames per second (?) shots on the epic fight scene between Godzilla and Megaguirus is unique; the city and land models have very cool details and the wide angle shots are believeable, especially in scenes showing Godzilla's approach to Tokyo.

Many of Godzilla's films (that I have seen recently) are filled with hard core action at the expense of character development, but I think this is a weakness rather than a strength. I like GvMeg because it attempts to balance the two elements.

The other G films that I have seen directed by Masaaki Tezuka are Godzilla against Mechagodzilla (2002) and, recently, Godzilla Tokyo SOS (2003). I prefer GvMeg over Godzilla againt Mechagodzilla, despite the many complaints of the special effects in GvMeg. BTW, the worst special effects scene in GvMeg must be chapter 20 on the DVD, the night scene when we first see Megaguirus. The effects shots were too "crisp." It needed less lighting and more smoke effects to hide the mobility wires of the Megaguirus model. Other than this one scene, I thought the SFX were pretty cool! The picture and sound quality are very good, and the inclusion of the Japanese audio track was an excellent decision by Sony Pictures. I give this film 3.5 out of 5 and include it on my top 5 favorite G films.

4/5 Better than G2000
  by Godzilla (Denver)
Made right after Godzilla 2000, its seems to be an upgrade in just about all areas. But still, Toho has not put out a great film (what else is new?) The human characters are better developed, as are the special effects. Godzilla battles a huge dragonfly as the human characters try to suck him into a black hole. Overall pretty good, but nothing out of this world (cant compare to GMK) Still a worthy DVD, and a must have to your collection.