Customer Reviews

Godzilla Raids Again [VHS]

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

FILM HISTORY
This film made in 1955 is the very first sequel made to the original "Gojira" aka "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" in its US release. The film was rushed into production in order to capitalize on the popularity of the first film. In the US it was apparently released by a different film company than the first film, so the title was changed such that the word "Godzilla" didn't even appear in it! The US theatrical release title was "Gigantis the Fire Monster." The film has been released in the US under other titles over the years, such as "The Return of Godzilla" and as "Godzilla Raids Again" when it was on VHS tape. The original Japanese title was apparently, "Gojira no gyakushû" or "Gojira Strikes Again" in English.

I am a huge Godzilla fan and have been since I was a small child, and in all the years I watched these films on TV, in the theater, and on home video, I've never seen this film broadcast on television and I apparently missed it when it was available on VHS. I didn't even know it existed until I saw it listed in Michael Weldon's Psychotronic Film Guide years ago. It seems that the fact that this film was not released in the US by the same company that released the original film has doomed this one to obscurity for an extremely long time. However, this situation is now corrected with the release of the film to DVD.

FILM SYNOPSIS, PRODUCTION TRIVIA, COMMENTS
As was stated in the original Gojira, it does turn out that there are more of these monstrous creatures in the sea than just the one Godzilla that was destroyed at the end of the first film. This film is more of a typical 1950s "monster smash 'em up" picture than the original film and less of a statement on nuclear horror. This sets the tone for many Godzilla pictures to come. There were also some apparent changes to the Gojira costume for this film as well as to the focus of the story. It also began the now long-standing tradition of matching Godzilla up with other monsters as Angiurus, sometimes called Anguilas, makes his debut in this film. He's the monster that looks a bit like an ankylosaur with a touch of giant hedgehog.

This film is a fairly average entry in the Godzilla series with little of the serious dramatic metaphors for and references to nuclear war so prevalent in the original Japanese version of the first film, but kaiju completists and monster movie fans will probably want to see this film because it has been so rarely seen or available up until now. The Japanese version is coherent, fairly well-acted and enjoyable. The American version is so hilariously bad that it's hugely entertaining as unintentional comedy! The American version is filled with nonsensical dialogue that has nothing to do with the original Japanese, it's loaded with cheesy stock footage that does not appear in the original film and it's voiced-over by a narrator (Keye Luke) that NEVER stops talking. Seriously, the American producer insisted on non-stop narration that never shuts up and insists on describing things that are clearly portrayed visually in the film. It's just terrible, but funny terrible! The American version would have been a great subject for Mystery Science Theater 3000. Be sure to listen to the commentary track on the American version after watching the film once without it. It's informative and highly entertaining.

DVD INFORMATION ON CONTENT INCLUDING EXTRA FEATURES
This DVD contains both the original 1955 Japanese version of the film as well as the 1959 American release dubbed in English. George Takei (Star Trek) and Keye Luke (Charlie Chan, Gremlins) both supplied voices for the English version. The subtitles for the uncut Japanese version were newly produced for this release. Like the recent excellent 2-disc DVD release of the original Gojira, this disc has commentary and featurettes by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski.

Note that the general release date for this DVD was originally supposed to be in November 2006, but it has been pushed back till spring 2007. This information comes directly from the godzillaondvd website, which is the official website of the producers of this DVD and the only place where the DVD can be purchased until general release.

I'm giving this release 3 stars for the movie and 5 stars for the great DVD treatment for a final rating of 4 stars. Monster flick fans can celebrate now that "Godzilla Raids Again" raids again!

The second Godzilla movie is a transitional entry in the series. Serious, but not as grim as "Godzilla, King of the Monsters," we see the first traces of the camp humor that became a trademark of Japanese sci-fi. It is one of the few movies of the series that does a "hand-off" from the previous flick. Dedicated fans will recognize Dr. Yamane from the first Godzilla film. In addition, Godzilla (also known as "Gigantis") meets Angilus, the first of many bizarre enemies. In somber B/W photography, the story of dueling monsters on the loose unfolds. This time it's Osaka and not Tokyo, threatened with fiery destruction. As usual, the monsters invade populous areas, destroy buildings, and threaten civilization. As usual, conventional military hardware has no effect. The English-dubbed dialogue is occasionally hilarious. The special effects and other production values are typical of Japanese sci-fi. This movie, virtually overlooked through the years, initially appeared in the USA as "Gigantis the Fire Monster." It played on a double feature program back in 1959/1960 with "Teenagers From Outer Space" (reviewed elsewhere in ...). Godzilla movies are an acquired taste that delight fans and repulse "normal" viewers. For aging baby-boomers, and other serious collectors of low-budget sci-fi, this movie is a recommended treat. :-)

(previous film "Godzilla, King of the Monsters")

Summary: Two prehistoric monsters bring their ages old battle to the city of Osaka, Japan. Only one will remain standing ... will it be the current champion Godzilla, or the challenger Angilas?

"Godzilla Raids Again" (aka "Gigantis, the Fire Monster"), while far from being the greatest G film ever made, is certainly not the worst either, yet, for some reason, this entry in the series has become something of a "lost" classic. Being one of the harder G movies to come by, any fan looking for this video to add to their collection should do so upon finding a copy. I realize that I've only given "Godzilla Raids Again" a rating of 2 stars, but a rating of 2 and a half stars would certainly be more appropriate.

"Godzilla Raids Again" is noteworthy mainly for being the 2nd, and last, G movie to be filmed in Black and White, and for being the first film in the series to feature a second monster, the spiky Angilas (one of my personal favorite monsters in G history). "Godzilla Raids Again" also serves as a kind of blueprint for future G films (particularly those from the 2nd, or Heisei, series of G films, and the 3rd, or Alternate Universe, series of G films), in that this entry lacks most of the haunting effect the original film had and focuses more on the serious action/adventure aspect that would come to be prevalent in later G films.

(Next film "King Kong Vs. Godzilla")

"Godzilla Raids Again" is the 2nd film in the Godzilla series. It is the last black and white film in the series as well as the last "stand-alone" Godzilla film to air until "Godzilla 1985". In many ways, "Godzilla Raids Again" is the ideological sequel to "Godzilla, King of the Monsters". The attitude of this film is different, far more pragmatic and martial than "Godzilla". Unlike the first film, the military stays in the fight for the entire film and ultimately prevails. In fact a better title for this film might be "Godzilla : Japan strikes back". The reaction to Godzilla in "Godzilla Raids Again" is one of both resignation and determination. Resignation that Godzilla has come back to menace Japan again. Determination to not let Godzilla destroy the country of Japan. Like "Godzilla", "Godzilla Raids Again" develops a substantial sub-plot following the exploits of Kobayashi and Tsukioka, two pilots for a fishing company. These two develop an onscreen chemistry that shines through the subtitles. You really get to root for these guys throughout the film. And "Godzilla Raids Again" lets you do so without taking away the focus from the monsters. It is in this film that Godzilla meets his first kaiju foe, a trend that would continue through 27 of Godzilla's next 29 films. "Godzilla Raids Again" has a smaller scale to it. The world is not so much threatened as is Osaka and Kobayashi and Tsukioka. It is this perception of Godzilla as a force that can be combated and conquered, which is much different than the feeling from "Godzilla". The story has the same thoughtfulness and pacing as "Godzilla". The military sequences are realistic and well done. A strong Godzilla film, not "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" but "Godzilla Raids Again" is not trying to be, this 2nd film is just trying to tell its story and continue the fine tradition established in "Godzilla". "Godzilla Raids Again" accomplishes both handily.

This is the second Godzilla movie, and this is the first time on DVD for the american version and the first time ever in the US for the uncut, unedied Japanese version. Both are included on this new DVD. The Japanese version is superior, but the dubbed american version is entertaining also, though its just a little bit confusing.
Here is a list of all the Godzilla films. The titles are the current, or most recent, US home video/DVD. TWO TITLES ARE GIVEN, WHER THE DVD INCLUDES BOTH JAPANESE AND US VERSIONS.
THE GODZILLA LIST:
#1 GOJIRA/GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS
#2 GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN/ GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER
#3 KING KONG VS. GODZILLA
#4 MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA / GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA (aka GODZILLA VS. THE THING)
#5 GHIDORAH, THE THREE HEADED MONSTER / GHIDRAH, THE THREE HEADED MONSTER
#6 INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER / GODZILLA VS. MONSTER ZERO (aka MONSTER ZERO)
#7 GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER
#8 SON OF GODZILLA
#9 DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
#10 GODZILLA'S REVENGE (aka ALL MONSTERS ATTACK)
#11 GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH (aka GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER)
#12 GODZILLA VS. GIGAN (aka GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND)
#13 GODZILLA VS. MEGALON
#14 GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (aka GODZILLA VS. COSMIC MONSTER)
#15 TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (aka TERROR OF GODZILLA)
#16 GODZILLA 1985 (aka RETURN OF GODZILLA)
#17 GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE
#18 GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH (aka GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORA)
#19 GODZILLA & MOTHRA, THE BATTLE FOR EARTH
#20 GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA II
#21 GODZILLA VS. SPACEGODZILLA
#22 GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH
#23 GODZILLA 1998 (aka GODZILLA, MONSTER EDITION)
#24 GODZILLA 2000
#25 GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRAS
#26 GODZILLA, MOTHRA & KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK
#27 GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA
#28 GODZILLA, TOKYO S.O.S.
#29 GODZILLA FINAL WARS
SEE ALSO:
HUMAN COMET ZONE (TV aka ZONE FIGHTER. GODZILLA has guest appearances.)
GODZILLA, THE ORIGINAL ANIMATED SERIES
GODZILLA, THE SERIES
THE GODZILLA SPIN-OFF SERIES LIST:
#1 RODAN
#2 VARAN, THE UNBELIEVABLE
#3 ATRAGON
#4 DOGORA (aka DAGORA, THE SPACE MONSTER)
#5 FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD
#6 WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS
#7 LATITUDE ZERO
#8 SPACE AMOEBA (aka YOG, MONSTER FROM SPACE)
SEE ALSO:
MEGALOMAN (TV)
GO! GREENMAN (TV)
GO! POWERMAN (TV aka GO! GODMAN)
THE KING KONG AND OFFICIAL KONG SPIN-OFF LIST:
#1 KING KONG
#2 SON OF KONG
#3 MIGHTY JOE YOUNG
#4 KING KONG VS. GODZILLA
#5 KING KONG ESCAPES
#6 KING KONG 1976
#7 KING KONG LIVES (aka KING KONG 2)
#8 MIGHTY JOE YOUNG 1997
#9 THE MIGHTY KONG (animated)
#10 KONG, KING OF ATLANTIS (animated)
#11 KING KONG 2005
#12 KONG, RETURN TO THE JUNGLE (animated)
SEE ALSO:
KING KONG, THE ANIMATED SERIES (aka THE KING KONG SHOW)
GO! GREENMAN (TV, KONG has a guest appearance in one episode.)
KONG, THE SERIES
KING KONG RIP-OFF LIST:
JAPANESE KING KONG
KING KONG APPEARED IN EDO (aka KING KONG APPEARS IN EDO)
NABONGA (aka NABONGA GORILLA)
WHITE PONGO (aka WHITE GORILLA)
THE WHITE GORILLA
AFRICA SCREAMS (aka ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET KING KONG)
UNKNOWN ISLAND
THE SNOW CREATURE
KONGA
THE MIGHTY GORGA
KING KONG (Hindi)
TARZAN MEETS KING KONG (Hindi)
KING OF KONG ISLAND (aka KONG ISLAND)
SEX KONG
DOLLS OF KING KONG
SUPER KING KONG (aka APE)
QUEEN KONG
MIGHTY PEKING MAN (aka GOLIATHON)
JULES VERNE'S WHERE TIME BEGAN (aka JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH)
YETI, GIANT OF THE 20TH CENTURY
KING DONG (aka LOST ON ADVENTURE ISLAND)
KING OF THE LOST WORLD
KINKY KONG
BABES IN KONG LAND
THE GAMERA LIST:
#1 GAMMERA, THE INVINCIBLE (aka GAMERA)
#2 WAR OF THE MONSTERS (aka GAMERA VS. BARUGON, GAMERA STRIKES BACK))
#3 RETURN OF THE GIANT MONSTERS (aka GAMERA VS. GAOS)
#3 DESTROY ALL PLANETS
#4 ATTACK OF THE MONSTERS (GAMERA VS. GUIRON)
#5 GAMERA VS. MONSTER X
#6 GAMERA VS. ZIGRA
#7 GAMERA SUPER MONSTER
#8 GAMERA, GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE
#9 GAMERA, ATTACK OF LEGION
#10 GAMERA, REVENGE OF IRIS
#11 GAMERA, THE BRAVE
THE GIANT MAJIN SERIES LIST:
#1 MAJIN, THE MONSTER OF TERROR (aka DAIMAJIN)
#2 RETURN OF THE GIANT MAJIN (aka WRATH OF DAIMAJIN)
#3 RETURN OF DAIMAJIN
THE MOTHRA LIST:
#1 MOTHRA
#2 REBIRTH OF MOTHRA
#3 REBIRTH OF MOTHRA 2
#4 REBIRTH OF MOTHRA 3
THE TOHO ALIEN INVASION SERIES:
#1 THE MYSTERIANS
#2 BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE
#3 GORATH
#4 WAR IN SPACE
THE TOHO MUTANT SERIES:
#1 HALF HUMAN
#2 INVISIBLE MAN
#3 THE H MAN
#4 HUMAN VAPOR
#5 MATANGO, ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE
#6 SECRET OF THE TELEGIAN
#7 ESPY
#8 LAST DAYS OF PLANET EARTH
OTHER GIANT MONSTERS:
GAPPA, THE TRIPHIBIAN MONSTERS (aka MONSTER FROM A PREHISTORIC PLANET)
THE X FROM OUTER SPACE (aka GUILALA, SPACE MONSTER))
YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP
GIANT GORO VS. GOLIATH (aka DAIGORO AGAINST GORIASU)
VOYAGE INTO SPACE (aka JOHNNY SOKKO & HIS FLYING ROBOT)
PLANET OF THE BIONIC APES (aka SPECTREMAN)
MONSTERS FROM SPACE (aka SPACE GIANTS)
LEGEND OF THE DINOSAURS (aka LEGENDS OF DINOSAURS & MONSTER BIRDS)
SUPER INFRAMAN (aka INFRAMAN)
THE LAND UNKNOWN
THE LAST DINOSAUR
THE BERMUDA DEPTHS
REPTILICUS
GORGO
GARUDA
THE GIANT CLAW
ZARKORR!, THE INVADER
KRAA!, THE SEA MONSTER
REPTILIAN (aka YONG-GARY)
BRAIN 17 (aka IRON ROBOT 17)

When this film was originally made in 1955 in Japan, it was called "Gojira No Gyusku". That's "Godzilla's Counterattack" in Japanese. Then, it was titled "Godzilla Raids Again". When it came to here in the US of A, it was called "Gigantis, the Fire Monster". Confusing, right? The plot is that Godzilla is back and this time he's in Osaka rather than Tokyo. Anyway, Godzilla fights a monster that looks like an Anklyosaurus with TONS of spikes on his back. This monster is called Anguirus. Another name for Anguirus is "Angilas", but I call him Anguirus. Anyway, this was a fine movie. Its kinda campy, and the dubbing is terrible, but that's the only bad thing. Enjoy this movie. WARNING: This movie contains very violent scenes, including Godzilla (basicly) rips out Anguirus's throat. So, only let kids about 8 and up watch this movie. Nuff said.

I've just finished watching both the US & Japan versions of this film, as released on DVD 4/3/07. For those of you who've never seen this little piece of work, prepare thyselves, it could go one of a few different ways. I had never seen this pic but heard about it for years so buying it sight unseen was not a question.
GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN/GIGANTIS, FIRE MONSTER: Decent prints, certainly on par with the recent release of GODZILLA/GOJIRA in terms of print quality. I wasn't expecting the best prints given Toho hasn't had a print yet that screams to be called 'beautiful' of their old stuff. Well, MATANGO/ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE is pretty dang good. Here, they're definitely watchable (each 4x3) with obvious clean up still needed, but for such a rare release in the US, it's hard to complain.
THE JP FILM: Wow....this was....eeerrrm....uh....... It almost felt like no one knew what to do with the Godzilla character or the story. It seems to drag......start up....slow down.....then go off onto some wacky escaped-convict-subplot to get to a certain point in the story (sorry...no spoilers:-) What the....?!?! It did seem to retain SOME of the serious tone of the original but the execution was haphazard, I almost switched to the US on a few occasions, it resembled an Asian Ed Wood film so much (sorry, G' afficianados;-) And super speeded up-Keystone Cops monster battles. I had wondered what exactly it was that other reviewers were referring to and then I saw it. Talk about distracting. The film suddenly looks like it's a silent film when Godzilla and Anguirus begin battling, which is a shame, because there's quite a bit of it to watch and the suit is basically the original with more closeups (puppet & body) and clearer scenes. So those of you ever wishing you could see the original suit for longer periods of time, well, it's here.....kinda. I wish on all these newer releases they'd make the subtitles a little THICKER. They're sometimes hard to see no matter what color being so thinly cased fonts. These are no exception. Run time: 81:34.

US VERSION: This is the first time in my life with DVD's that I'd ever restarted a movie to watch it with the commentary on to get through it. I made it about 20-30 minutes into the dubbed version of the film before I couldn't take it anymore. I know it's ridiculous that a dubbed Japanese character should have a Western accent, but here the Japanese accent just sounded sooo stereotypically Asian...........which as an Asian myself sounds weird to say, but I think you'd have to watch the film to see what I mean for yourself. I kept expecting the guy to finish his lines saying "Aaaah-soooo" or "me no like" WTF!?............gaaaah!!!! Anyone moaning about the American remix of the original Godzilla with Burr, need only watch this remix to gain a new appreciation of THAT American recut. Run time: 79:00.

The commentary was nearly perfect....good mix of excellent info.....book read notes and even some parts that sounded...well ...spontaneous...lol. That was enjoyable. I'm not big on commentaries either, so this was a good thing. DUBBING PART 2: I restarted the film because, well, I enjoy bad dubbing when in the mood, but this was a particular brand of atrocious that I was not prepared for ....maybe on another day...but not last night. The dubbing sounds read from a book, so when the character is raising their arm....the narrator TELLS YOU he's raising his arm....lol. What were they thinking!? lol.

THE CASE and INNARDS: The ads all over give you the impression it's the same thickness as the GOJIRA 2 -disc. This being one disc, the case is thinner, but same concept. The packaging is EXCELLENT. But you will need to keep the paper band around it if it is to stay closed long term as it does not clip shut on its own which is a downside. The case is a hard cardboard like the Gojira release....coated with the foiled print. Very nice..it's pretty cool looking in all of its movie poster-Japanese crowded text & description glory. And if you're a junkie for Japaneses packaging design, this is a treat. The case crackles open to reveal a clear tray to the right and a photo of Anguirus (SP? too early int the am to spellcheck lol) The disc is 2- films -on-one- style, graphics (i.el text only) on one side. When the main menu pops up you choose one or the other (US/JP), then proceed to their individual menu. These look like the Gojira menus stylistically...i.e. poster art etc. Both have the 'ART OF SUIT ACTING' special feature which was fun to watch if not a clinical assessment at times, but you can't go wrong. The host is QUITE informed and knows his stuff and the info is excellent, not to mention the behind the scenes photos is a treat to see. On this or the same day release of MOTHRA....there is NO BOOKLET ala GOJIRA.

OVERALL: For this price, and you now it's going to go down soon, this was a good buy, especially to see something otherwise only available on bootlegs on Ebay for us here in the US. I do wish they'd make these cases clip shut, because they will eventually not have the tightness to stay closed on their own and then dirt and junk will make their way in. But yes, overall.....cool purchase, and no complaints really, on this end. Casual fans may wanna rent this first though:-)

In 1954, a giant monster stomped onto the streets of Tokyo. Destroying buildings and causing lots of mayhem. After meeting a terrible fate with the oxygen destroyer, the beast known as Godzilla fell. But was Japan really declared safe? And if so, for how long? In 1955, the Toho Company produced a sequel to the hit monster movie 'Gojira'. That sequel was called 'Godzilla Raids Again'. Originally released in Japan as "Godzilla's Counterattack," this is the second entry in the long running series. It's the first Godzilla movie to feature a battle between two monsters. In 1959, the film was released in the US under the title "Gigantis the Fire Monster." That was due to rights issues. Luckily, the folks over at Genius Products have given us fans the privilege of watching the movie in its original full form. If you're looking for a review on the 1959 English release of Godzilla Raids Again, then you're in the wrong place. The version of the movie I'm reviewing for you is the original Japanese cut, which is about 4 minutes longer than the American theatrical release.

In Godzilla Raids Again we follow two pilots named Tsukioka and Kobayashi. They are flying in planes to scout out schools of fish for a tuna cannery company. Kobayashi's plane malfunctions and is forced to land near Iwato Island. The island is an uninhabited strip of rocks formed by volcanic eruptions. In an attempt to save Kobayashi, Tsukioka lands his plane and finds him safe near the shore. The two pilots then face a horrible realization, as they witness a fight between two giant monsters. Tsukioka immediately recognizes one of the monsters in combat; It turns out to be Godzilla. Not the same monster that was killed, but a whole new Godzilla which bares the same looks as the one that destroyed Tokyo. The two monsters continue to fight and eventually fall into the ocean. Tsukioka and Kobayashi head back and report to the authorities in Osaka. There the two pilots were able to identify the other spiky creature as yet another monster that lived during the dinosaur era.

The monster is named "Anguirus." While doing research on Anguirus, the scientists learned that it's a monster that hates hostile creatures, which explains the intense rivalry between Anguirus and Godzilla. This is one of those Godzilla movies you may not have heard about. That's because it wasn't well received. 'Raids Again' is a rushed sequel that failed to satisfy many expectations upon its release (especially in the US). Although it is the third most-attended Godzilla film to date, it was poorly received by fans and critics alike. It was rushed to the theaters six months after the release of the first film. The movie suffered heavy editing in the United States, and was given a title change which took its focus off of Godzilla. With that said, it's pretty obvious why I found the Japanese cut to be a lot better. Although Godzilla Raids Again is not the most popular film in the franchise, I still enjoyed it for what it was. I'm not very picky when it comes to movies in this genre.

I did however find it to be a little long, which is my biggest complaint. Other than that, I found the movie to be pretty enjoyable. The American cut however is unwatchable. Don't bother wasting your time with the chopped up American version of the movie. Unless you want to see "Gigantis". For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, "Gigantis" is actually Godzilla's name in the US cut of the movie. This was to give the audience the impression that they were seeing a whole new monster. Scenes with Godzilla shooting fire was cut out, and the voice effects were changed. You can see why I'm telling you to stay away from that version. Stick to the original cut of the movie; you'll be pleasantly surprised. Anyway, what makes this movie good is the fact it's the first time we get to see Godzilla face another monster. As far as the action goes, this movie has just about everything. Explosions, destruction and a great battle between two foes.

The fight between Godzilla and Anguirus is remarkable and bloody near the end. The fight scenes are my favorite, not so much the story and pace. I personally believe that Godzilla Raids Again is almost as good as the first movie. "Almost" is the keyword, because it's still lacking in those other areas. Not to mention "Raids Again" doesn't carry the grim seriousness of the original. Still, it's a good movie that's been under looked over the years. Genius Products did a fantastic job with the re-release of Gojira. The company does another fine job here with this DVD. They've remastered the picture and sound, and added in a new featurette; plus a commentary track. In the featurette "Art of Suit Acting," you get a brief history on the actors who wore the costumes. That's as far as the features go, there really isn't much in here. The DVD isn't jam packed with extras. Still, if you're looking to expand on your collection of monster movies, then you have to pick this movie. It's definitely worth the money.

Wow! I'm impressed.
All these years I knew this fim as "Gigantis:The Fire Monster"
All these years I was watching a complete farse. This is really a great Godzilla movie. It has such a dark overtone to it and the scenes at night when Godzilla is lurking in the bay have such an eerie silence to them that it actually comes across as nightmarish.
Godzilla looks great with his ugly teeth and the special effects are outstanding for that time period.
I am so glad that I got this. I had a VHS copy of "Gigantis:The Fire Monster" and I never really liked it. After viewing this film the way it was meant to be seen, this has rapidly become one of my favorite Godzilla films.
This is a movie for serious G-Fans. I would not recommend it to smaller kids because it moves a little slower than some of the later entries into the series such as "Final Wars" and "GMK".
I totally recommend it to all other fans of Godzilla and Japanese Monsters!
I have always liked Godzilla movies and after viewing this marvel, I only embrace the series all the more.
Rock on Godzilla, Rock on!

The original "Godzilla" ("Gojira") was such a surprise smash hit, that Toho studios immediately went into production on a sequel, and managed to release "Godzilla Raids Again" ("Gojira no gyakushu" or "Godzilla's Counterattack") only six months after the original.

Setting the stage for all Godzilla movies to come, this is the first "Godzilla vs. " film, introducing a monster-sized opponent for the big fella, the Ankylosaurus-inspired Anguirus. Filmed in black and white, "Godzilla Raids Again" is a bridge between the serious "Godzilla" and the more campy incarnations to follow.

In the story, a roving airplane discovers a Godzilla-type monster (the original Godzilla being killed at the end of the first movie) battling Anguirus on a remote island, what can only be the famed Monster Island of later films. Notifying headquarters, the military prepares for the eventual spill-over of the battle into Japan. And spill it does, as the two beasties tear it up in the heart of Osaka, tromping over such landmarks as Osaka Castle. Godzilla soundly defeats and kills Anguirus, and is then chased to the Arctic where heroic Japanese pilots bury him under the ice and snow....forever?

A flawed film, and not nearly as good as the original, "Godzilla Raids Again" is still better than some of the overly-campy sequels to follow. It retains enough of the serious elements from the first film, including Kurosawa actor Takeshi Shimura ("Seven Samurai," "Ikiru") as Dr. Yamane-hakase. The black and white really suits Godzilla, and adds an extra air of menace.

Unfortunately, this is a rushed production, with not enough time and budget put into perfecting it. The most noticeable error is the speeded-up monster battles of Godzilla and Anguirus. The director wanted to film them in slow-motion, as had been done before, but the technician accidentally undercranked the camera instead of overcranking it, resulting in the action appearing faster than reality.

The US dub of "Godzilla Raids Again" is one of the worst of all time, sometimes renaming Godzilla "Gigantis the Fire Monster" and using Anguirus's roar instead of the trade-mark Godzilla roar. A DVD with the original Japanese language track is definitely needed to fully appreciate the charms the film has to offer.